A Family's Fight for Affordable Eczema Medication

For children under 12, the eczema medication Dupilumab can cost families up to $1,600 per month without Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) coverage. For those over 12, the same medication is listed on the PBS and costs $25 per month. This disparity is at the heart of an advocacy campaign led by families and medical professionals.

Tanner's Story: Relief at a High Cost

Tanner Hosie, a 10-year-old from Narrandera, New South Wales, was diagnosed with severe eczema at just six months old. Eczema is an incurable immune dysregulation skin disease. For years, treatments like steroid creams and bleach baths provided little relief for Tanner.

Two years ago, he began using Dupilumab, a medication administered via bi-weekly or monthly injections. The improvement was significant. However, because Tanner is under 12, the drug is not PBS-listed for his age group.

"You just have to make it work, you don't have a choice in the matter," said Tanner's mother, Kasey-Rae Hosie, regarding affording the medication.

To access Dupilumab, Ms. Hosie relies on the pharmaceutical company's compassionate funding program, which requires eligibility reviews every six months. She is now advocating for PBS listing of Dupilumab for children under 12.

Medical Support and Advocacy

Paediatric dermatologist Li-Chuen Wong supports the push for broader access. She explained that without effective treatment, comorbidities like asthma, hay fever, and anxiety are common for people with severe eczema.

Dr. Wong stated she does not understand why PBS funding for the drug for children under 12 has not been approved.

The organisation Eczema Support Australia has launched a campaign advocating to lower the age for PBS funding. Its managing director, Melanie Funk, said the financial strain on families is severe.

"Families have discussed setting up fundraising pages or remortgaging homes to afford the medication," Ms. Funk said.

The Path to PBS Listing

The regulatory process for listing a drug on the PBS is complex:

• In March 2022, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended Dupilumab for severe atopic dermatitis for patients under 12.
• The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing stated the next step—requiring support documentation from the pharmaceutical company Sanofi—did not occur at that time.

Sanofi, the company behind Dupilumab, has now responded. The company said it is providing an updated proposal for the PBAC to consider at a meeting in July 2024 to reassess the drug for children under 12.

This upcoming meeting offers a new opportunity for the committee to make a final recommendation, which could lead to more affordable access for young children like Tanner.