QENDO Statement on the Withdrawal of Zoladex
QENDO is deeply concerned by the announcement that Zoladex® (goserelin) will be withdrawn from the Australian market later this year.
For many people living with endometriosis, adenomyosis and chronic pelvic pain, Zoladex has been an important treatment option that has helped manage symptoms, reduce pain, improve quality of life, and in some cases support fertility and surgical planning.
We recognise that Zoladex is not the right treatment for everyone. Like all medications, treatment decisions should be individualised and made between a patient and their healthcare team.
However, for some people, Zoladex has been life-changing.
At a time when people living with endometriosis and pelvic pain already face limited treatment options, long diagnostic delays, significant out-of-pocket healthcare costs, workforce impacts, and ongoing barriers to care, the removal of an established treatment option raises serious concerns.
QENDO is particularly concerned about the financial impact this decision may have on patients who are now being forced to consider alternative treatment pathways. Many alternative options involve additional specialist appointments, medication changes, investigations, surgery, fertility planning, or treatments that may not be equally effective or accessible.
People living with endometriosis and pelvic pain are already carrying a significant financial burden. They should not be expected to absorb yet another cost because an effective treatment option has been removed from the market.
Importantly, our understanding is that this decision is a commercial decision rather than one related to the safety or effectiveness of the medication.
This raises a broader question for government and policymakers:
Why are Australians losing access to a treatment that is working well for many people, particularly when there are already so few options available?
We also note that goserelin continues to play an important role in other areas of healthcare, including prostate cancer treatment. This decision highlights the need for transparent discussions about access, supply, equity and continuity of care for all patient groups impacted.
QENDO is actively engaging with decision-makers, clinicians, government representatives, consumer advocates, and partner organisations across the women’s health and cancer sectors to better understand the implications of this withdrawal and to raise the concerns being shared by our community.
We are calling on governments and relevant stakeholders to:
Ensure clear transition pathways for people currently using Zoladex.
Provide financial support measures for patients who may be required to change treatment.
Investigate options to maintain access where clinically appropriate.
Improve transparency around decisions that impact access to essential treatments.
Recognise that treatment choice matters, particularly in conditions where options are already limited.
Quote attributable to Jess Taylor, CEO, QENDO
“People living with endometriosis already spend years fighting to be believed, years waiting for diagnosis, and thousands of dollars trying to access care. Removing a treatment option that is working for many people is simply not good enough.”
“We know Zoladex is not the right option for everyone. But for some people it has been genuinely life-changing. In a healthcare system where treatment options are already limited, taking another option off the table without adequate alternatives leaves patients carrying the burden.”
“Women and people living with endometriosis should not be forced to navigate additional costs, treatment uncertainty, or disruption to their care because of a commercial decision. Government must step in to ensure patients are supported, protected, and not left behind.”
QENDO will continue advocating on behalf of the community and will provide updates as further information becomes available. We encourage anyone currently taking Zoladex to speak with their treating specialist before making any changes to their treatment plan.
