Add-on asthma treatments now available through the PBS

The Turnbull government will invest close to $130 million to give Australian asthma sufferers subsidised access to breakthrough medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

From 1 February 2017, people who suffer severe uncontrolled asthma will have subsidised access through the PBS to the medicine Spiriva Respimat. Minister for Health Sussan Ley described the medicine as “an important medication for adult patients with severe uncontrolled asthma who, despite taking daily maintenance treatments, continue to experience symptoms like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

“Without the subsidy, patients would pay more than $700 per year for the medicine,” Ley said.

Additionally, the antibody mepolizumab (marketed as Nucala) will be made available on the PBS from 1 January 2017 as an add-on treatment for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma — a ‘subtype’ of asthma that sees patients suffer from persistent airway inflammation, despite the use of preventative treatment. People living with eosinophilic severe asthma have high levels of white blood cells (eosinophils) in their lungs.

“Patients with severe refractory eosinophilic asthma do not have typical asthma,” said respiratory specialist Professor Phil Bardin, director at Monash Lung and Sleep. “It can be a struggle to control their day-to-day symptoms despite maximal doses of prescribed medications.”

Nucala works on a molecular level by targeting interleukin-5 (IL-5), which plays an important role in regulating the function of eosinophils. Administered as a monthly injection, it works to reduce the number of these cells, reduce the frequency of patients’ asthma flare-ups and reduce the oral steroid dose for those patients taking such steroids on an ongoing basis. It is the first treatment approved for this type of severe asthma.

“It’s a big step forward to be able to offer a treatment specifically developed for this disease type,” said Professor Bardin.

Nucala’s PBS listing means it will drop in price from $21,000 to $490 a year, or $80 for concession holders. It is available in Australia through GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Image courtesy of NIAID under CC BY 2.0