Game-changing asthma treatment for kids listed on PBS

A new antibody treatment for severe asthma in children is about to become significantly more affordable for Australian families after it was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. 

Dupixent, which is administered via fortnightly injections, targets the source of inflammation associated with asthma.

For the Fishburn family from Sydney's south-west, the treatment has already had a transformative impact on their ten-year-old son, Jak. 

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Prior to accessing Dupixent through early compassionate access in March, Jak's severe asthma limited his ability to participate in school sporting activities.

But that has now been turned around.

"I could run, I could play more sport," Jak said. 

"It's just changed our lives completely… everything's changed," mother Sarah Fishburn said.

"Within the first month, we noticed he really didn't wheeze at all. 

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"By two months, we weren't giving his (preventer) anymore and by three months he hasn't had his ventolin or preventative, we treat him as if he doesn't have asthma."

Dupixent previously cost about $1600 per month, however the PBS listing, which will come into effect on Monday, will reduce it to $31.60, or $7.70 for concession card holders.

Having wider access to the treatment for those aged between six and 11 could also help reduce the burden on our hospitals – with 13,500 hospital admissions each year for children under 15 who struggle with asthma across the country.

"Having another tool available to us to try and prevent those hospitalisations is a really good thing," Asthma Australia paediatric adviser Associate Professor Shivanthan Shanthikumar said.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.