AstraZeneca ensures free Zoladex access for Australian patients

AstraZeneca announced that its Zoladex® (goserelin 3.6 mg) implant will remain available to Australian patients who have no other suitable treatment option, supplying the drug free of charge through a Zoladex Continuity Program. The decision follows an earlier plan to delist the 3.6 mg implant from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 November 2026. Endometriosis Australia welcomed the outcome, noting that the program will cover both existing users and new patients, with enrollment details to be released in September 2026.

Patients such as Shae Clements, a 37‑year‑old Tasmanian living with severe adenomyosis, have voiced concern over the uncertainty created by the PBS change. Clements described how monthly Zoladex injections reduced her pain by 90 percent and warned that private prescriptions would cost over $200 per dose, making treatment unaffordable for many. Under the continuity program, all patients prescribed the 3.6 mg implant before the delisting date will automatically qualify, while the 10.8 mg implant for prostate cancer will continue to be subsidised.

The move is seen as a response to widespread public backlash and aims to secure long‑term access for thousands of women and other patients who rely on Zoladex for endometriosis, adenomyosis, breast cancer and fertility preservation.