Max Horder, 13, and his sister Mila, 12, have a rare hereditary condition called lysosomal storage disease.
The incurable disease is damaging their bones, affecting both growth and mobility. It is also causing their family financial ruin.
The drug that could offer greater endurance and pain relief is Vimizim but its affordability has placed the family with devastating options.
"We know that it's not a cure but know that it's going to help us a lot," Mila said.
"People who can't walk anymore, they're able to walk now."
The cost of the drug has been estimated to sit at almost half a million dollars per child on an annual basis.
Top Comments
The pressure should be exerted on the drug company for charging such an exorbitant price, not the PBS. Also, not that the benefits of this drug are relatively minor, and come with signficant adverse reaction risks. It is not a life saver, but rather a life enhancer, and does not cure the disease either. The drug is extremely expensive, and the marginal benefits are not judged to be worth the price - by a huge factor. Put simply, there are far more worth rare-condition expensive drugs that are worth funding, and that often don't get funded. Unfortunately, the taxpayer, via the PBS, can't make its decisions based on the emotions of parents of these children, and nor should it. Any pressure to provide this drug should be exerted on the drug company for making such a minimally beneficial drug so extraordinarily expensive.
Must be dreadful and frustrating, and heart wrenching, seeing your children suffer, knowing there is medication available that would ease their symptoms. BUT at what price? Half a million dollars EACH per year for their lives.
But many other medications that are just as costly, if not more, are covered by the PBS.