Analysis of dupilumab for asthma, February 2024
Page last updated: 19 July 2024
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
To review the utilisation of dupilumab for uncontrolled severe asthma, as requested by DUSC at its September 2023 meeting.
Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Dupilumab was PBS listed for uncontrolled severe asthma on 1 April 2021.
Data Source / methodology
Data extracted from the PBS database maintained by Department of Health and Aged Care, processed by Services Australia were used for the analyses.
Key Findings
- A total of 41,557 prescriptions of dupilumab for uncontrolled severe asthma have been supplied to 4,446 patients since listing. In 2022, 17,292 prescriptions were supplied to 2,669 patients.
- Of the 4,446 patients who initiated dupilumab, dupilumab was the first biologic medicine supplied to 2,983 (67%) patients for severe asthma, and 1,463 patients were switched to dupilumab from either omalizumab, mepolizumab or benralizumab.
- The age group with the highest proportion of initiating patients was the 60 to 64 year old group. There were negligible cases of patients aged younger than 12 who initiated dupilumab for severe asthma.
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine specialist prescribers accounted for 67% of the supplied prescriptions of dupilumab, and Dermatology or Immunology and Allergy specialist prescribers accounted for 21% of the supplied prescriptions.
- All of the 4,446 patients supplied dupilumab under a PBS item code for severe asthma were previously supplied inhaled corticosteroids through the PBS.
