Dupixent® (dupilumab): New Updates and What They Mean for the Eczema Community in Australia

There have been some important developments this month regarding Dupixent® (dupilumab), a treatment that has already made a lifechanging difference for many people living with severe eczema and asthma. We know our community will be eager to understand what these announcements mean, especially for children with eczema.

New PBS Listing for Severe Paediatric Asthma

The Federal Government has announced that Dupixent will soon be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for children under 12 with severe asthma who are not well controlled with existing treatments.

Dupixent is already PBS listed for:

• Adolescents and adults with severe asthma

• Adolescents and adults with severe eczema

This expansion to include younger children with severe asthma is welcome progress. Each PBS listing helps pave the way for broader access across conditions, including eczema.

Dupixent Pre-Filled Pen (Autoinjector)

Another development is the introduction of the Dupixent pre-filled pen (autoinjector). Until now, Dupixent has only been available in Australia via pre-filled syringe. The new pen provides people and families with greater choice in how treatment is administered.

If you are already prescribed Dupixent and would like to try the pen instead of the syringe:

• You do not need a new script.

• Speak with your pharmacist, who can guide you through accessing the pen.

We will share more details about the pen option in the coming weeks.

Advocacy for Children with Eczema

For many families, this news may also be a reminder of the long wait for Dupixent access for children with severe eczema. We want to acknowledge that frustration, and also reassure you that:

• Eczema Support Australia continues to advocate strongly for children to have timely access to new eczema treatments.

• We remain optimistic that a PBS listing for children with eczema is not far away.

• Next week, our Managing Director Melanie Funk will be at Parliament House in Canberra, speaking directly with decision-makers about the urgent need for treatment access for children.

We are standing with you, and we’ll keep you updated on every development.

What You Can Do

If your child’s eczema is hard to manage with topical treatments, we encourage you to speak with a dermatologist about treatment options available now and in the future. To help you prepare for these conversations, take a look at our factsheet: 5 Questions to Ask When Your Eczema is Hard to Manage.

Final Note
These are encouraging steps forward, and we want to assure our community that you are not forgotten. We will continue to work with government, medical bodies, and other stakeholders to ensure that Australians living with eczema have access to the treatments they need.