PBS listing offers hope for eczema sufferers
SUFFERERS of severe eczema, such as Tasmanian Jessie Dallas, will have improved access to a medicine to treat the skin condition.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced that from March 1, Dupixent will be available to Australians over 12 living with eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, who are not adequately controlled by other therapy.
Mr Hunt said more than $270m was being invested to put the medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with more than 3600 people expected to benefit each year.
Without the PBS subsidy, sufferers might otherwise pay about $22,800 a year.
Mrs Dallas, 37, said eczema had a significant impact on her physical and mental wellbeing.
“I have been hospitalised twice where they had to cover me in bandages and I have had many days when I have not been able to move because of the searing pain,’’ she said.
“I was avoiding showers and was unable to sleep because I would frequently get itching attacks. It also made exercising extremely uncomfortable.”
But in 2019, after trying many other medications, she started treatment with Dupixent on compassionate grounds.
“It’s significantly improved my quality of life … it’s nowhere near as painful, I’m not itching anywhere near as much and I’m looking much better compared to what I used to look like,'’ she said.
Mrs Dallas has the treatment through a fortnightly injection into the stomach.
Mr Hunt said uncontrolled eczema was more than a skin condition and could affect every aspect of life for individuals and their families.
“While there is no known cure for eczema, medicines such as Dupixent can offer relief to people from debilitating symptoms and improve quality of life,’’ he said.
“Dupixent is a targeted new medicine that stops the body’s immune system overreacting and producing more inflammation than is normal.
“Until now, treatment of severe atopic dermatitis has focused on reducing inflammation through use of intensive topical skin treatments and broadbased systemic immunosuppressant therapies that can have widespread effects on the body.”