Lifesaving breast cancer and endometriosis drug to be pulled from shelves

Zoladex 3.6mg is prescribed to patients to slow the growth of breast cancer or reduce the risk of it recurring. (ABC News: Chris Taylor)

AstraZeneca has announced it will pull a critical breast cancer and endometriosis drug from Australian shelves from November.

Patients have labelled the decision "cruel" and say they have been blindsided.

AstraZeneca says it will provide free access to the drug for six months for those without alternative treatment pathways.

A life-saving breast cancer and endometriosis drug will be pulled from Australian shelves by a major global drug manufacturer later this year, in a move some women have described as "cruel" and "soul-destroying".

Goserelin 3.6mg implant, also known as Zoladex, will be removed from both the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the private market in November, at the request of manufacturer AstraZeneca, for what it says are commercial reasons.

A higher dose of the drug used for prostate cancer, Zoladex 10.8mg, will remain on the PBS.

Breast cancer patients like Kate Hardman say the decision is "cruel". (Supplied)

The announcement has left breast cancer patients feeling confused and anxious at an already challenging time in their lives, according to Vicki Durston, director of policy advocacy and support services at patient advocacy group Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA).

"They're already living with fear of recurrence or fear of progression."

Vicki Durston says the drug has been effective for patients. (Supplied)

Zolodex 3.6mg is prescribed to patients to slow the growth of breast cancer or reduce the risk of it recurring, and is also used to manage endometriosis.

The medication, delivered monthly as a small pellet injected under the skin, is a form of hormone therapy that stops a patient's ovaries from producing oestrogen, which promotes the growth of some forms of breast cancer and can fuel endometriosis.

Mother-of-three Kate Hardman, 41, has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and has been using Zoladex 3.6mg since 2023.

She said that, as well as having to deal with a life-threatening illness, she was now also having to stress about whether she would be able to access the medication that kept her alive.

"It's kind of shocking because for me, that's life-saving. For a lot of women, that's saving their fertility, so to have that just taken away is cruel," she said.

The exact reasons behind AstraZeneca's decision remain unclear.

A notification from the Health Department stated: "AstraZeneca has chosen to remove the medicine from the PBS for commercial reasons."

A spokesperson fo