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‘Life-changing’ eczema drug to stay on PBS
Dupixent was at high risk of coming off the PBS as soon as this month due to high demand, but negotiations have secured its continued listing.
Dupixent acts on two inflammatory proteins in the immune system that trigger eczema.
Australians facing severe eczema have been spared from having to pay $20,000 a year for the ‘game-changing’ drug dupilumab (sold as Dupixent), following successful negotiations between the supplier, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the Federal Government.
Due to higher-than-expected prescriptions in July this year, Dupixent was at risk of being taken off the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) by the drug sponsor Sanofi, something Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said could have happened as early as this month.
RACGP Specific Interests Dermatology member Dr Anneliese Willems told newsGP she would have been ‘profoundly concerned’ if the withdrawal of Dupixent went ahead.
‘It has been game-changing in treating skin disease,’ she said.
‘We know that Dupixent results in about a 90% reduction in disease severity, and it really has been life-changing for a number of my patients.’
Dupixent was added to the PBS in 2021 for patients 12 years and over, and without the listing the cost of accessing the medication is $20,000 a year.
Patients will now continue to pay a maximum of $31.60 per script, or $7.70 if they hold a concession card.
Minister Butler said the removal of the drug from the PBS was ‘unacceptable to the Government’.
‘We have worked to move heaven and earth to keep this life-changing treatment on the PBS,’ he said.
Research has shown around 16% of the Australian population is impacted by eczema, with an estimated 25% of those cases being severe.
But Dr Willems emphasised the importance of GPs moderating referrals for Dupixent for mild to moderate conditions, especially when facing the ‘huge increase in requests’.
‘I’ve noticed, anecdotally, a correlation between an increase in those requests alongside a reluctance to use topical corticosteroid therapy,’ she said.
‘There is still an important role for topical corticosteroids, and there’s been a lot of misinformation spread in this area and a lot of reluctance to continue taking these gold standard, first-line treatments for mild to moderate disease.
‘As we move forward, it’s important that patients with severe disease still have access to appropriate treatment, but that we do enhance and increase our education around mild to moderate disease management and dispel myths around topical corticosteroid use.’
For eczema patient Greg Giles, the news of the continued listing brought with it a sense of relief.
‘I remember days where I would spend the day just sitting in a cold bath because there was no other form of relief available to me,’ he said.
‘You can imagine what impact that not just has on you and your mental health, but also on your partner and your family.’
Mr Giles said he was one of the first in South Australia to begin taking Dupixent.
‘Within two weeks, what was almost total body coverage for me had actually completely disappeared,’ he said.
‘Since then, I’ve been on it for three years, it has not returned.’
However, although this news comes as a relief to many, Dr Willems said there are more barries to be addressed to allow GPs to help their patients manage this condition.
‘Managing eczema well takes a lot of time, both from the clinician but also for patients,’ she said.
‘It involves having a good discussion about the aetiology of eczema, discussing possible triggers, prevention and managing flares.
‘This does not align with the pressures on having shorter consultations at this time, as managing eczema well will often require lengthy consultation and this adds to the pressure on GPs.’
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dermatology Dupixent eczema PBS Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescribing skin issues
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