Boehringer Ingelheim joins thousands of Australian parents in welcoming the Federal Government's announcement that the asthma medication Spiriva®Respimat® (tiotropium bromide) will be made available for children as young as six years of age through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
From 1 March, the cost of Spiriva Respimat will be subsidised when it is added to the existing therapies of children aged six years and older with poorly controlled severe asthma.
Dr Petra Moroni-Zentgraf, Boehringer Ingelheim Australia Medical Director, said that today's announcement by Minister Hunt "opens a new chapter in the way severe asthma will be treated in a large number of children".
"This PBS listing will provide physicians experienced in managing severe asthma with a new treatment option," she said.
"Until now, PBS access to Spiriva Respimat has been limited to adults. It is exciting that this medicine can now be prescribed to children as young as six years of age whose asthma is not well managed on existing therapies.
"Asthma is a national health priority in Australia, and it is great to see the Federal Government making new treatment options readily available.
"Asthma is one of the most common childhood conditions, but there are fewer treatment options for children than for adults living with asthma," Dr Moroni-Zentgraf added.
Spiriva Respimat works to treat asthma by relaxing the tiny muscles that help to keep the airways open. The therapy – two puffs once a day – is delivered by the Respimat Soft Mist™ inhaler which releases medication as a fine and slow-moving mist to penetrate deep into the lungs.
From 1 March, as many as 30,000 children living with severe asthma will be eligible to receive Spiriva Respimat for $40.30 (general patients) or $6.50 (concession card holders).
Research reveals almost 50 per cent of asthma patients aged 4-18 are inadequately controlled, placing them at risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks. The symptoms of this common condition are far reaching and can have a detrimental effect on a person's work, education, sleep, social life and relationships.
"Boehringer Ingelheim has a long heritage in the treatment of airways disease and the company remains committed to educating general practitioners, specialists and pharmacists on the use of Spiriva Respimat for the treatment of severe asthma," said Dr Moroni-Zentgraf.
Spiriva Respimat belongs to a steroid-free class of medicines known as long-acting muscarinic antagonists and is indicated as add-on maintenance bronchodilator treatment in patients aged 6 years and older with moderate to severe asthma. The medicine is already reimbursed for adult patients with severe asthma who are treated with the maintenance combination of inhaled corticosteroids (≥800µg budesonide / day or equivalent) and long-acting beta agonists and who experienced one or more severe exacerbations in the previous year.
The therapy can also be used to relieve the symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in adult patients, and for the prevention of COPD exacerbations.
Children whose asthma is currently not well controlled should see a doctor for a review of their Asthma Management Plan.
