Dinutuximab Beta (QARZIBA)

Dinutuximab Beta (QARZIBA) is an immunotherapy drug designed to treat high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.

Currently approved as part of standard frontline treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma, QARZIBA has shown it improves survival rates for children in their first fight against this devastating disease.

Up till now, its use was not approved and funded for children who suffered a relapse or have refractory (treatment resistant) neuroblastoma where immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in combination with chemotherapy.  However, in June 2025, the Medical Services Advisory Committee recommended that Dinutuximab beta be approved for treatment in these children.

Read the MSAC's full Public Summary Document.

How the Neuroblastoma Community Helped Secure MSAC’s Recommendation 

In 2025, the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) considered whether Dinutuximab beta should be approved and publicly funded as a therapy for children with relapsed or refractory high-risk neuroblastoma, in combination with chemotherapy. This was a critical decision, with the potential to provide a much-needed treatment option for children facing relapse or resistant disease—and to improve their chances of survival.

Thanks to the strong advocacy and contributions from the neuroblastoma community, including families affected by the disease, clinicians, and dedicated supporters, MSAC received powerful feedback through its public consultation process.

During the public comment period, many community members shared their personal experiences, underscoring the urgent need for access to Dinutuximab beta. Their voices helped demonstrate the real-world impact of this treatment and played a pivotal role in MSAC’s final decision to recommend Dinutuximab beta for public funding through the Highly Specialised Therapies (HST) program.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in the consultation and supported this important milestone.

About Dinutuximab Beta

The purpose of Dinutuximab Beta is to offer a targeted treatment option for children with high-risk neuroblastoma.  

This drug works by stimulating the immune system to attack neuroblastoma cells, significantly improving survival rates when combined with chemotherapy.

For children who relapse or do not respond to initial treatments, Dinutuximab Beta in combination with chemotherapy provides a critical treatment option which is superior to chemotherapy alone based on clinical trial data. 

Why Children with High-Risk Neuroblastoma Need Dinutuximab Beta:

• Neuroblastoma is a rare, aggressive childhood cancer, with 50 Australian children diagnosed each year.
• Around half of these cases are classified as high-risk, requiring intensive treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and bone marrow transplants.
• Despite initial treatment, children with high-risk neuroblastoma have only a 50% chance of survival, and if the cancer relapses, their survival rate drops to around 10%.
• There are limited treatment options for children with relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma in Australia. Without funding for Dinutuximab Beta, children will continue to face the limited options provided (often combinations of chemotherapy or depend on compassionate access to immunotherapy which is not always possible).