What it took to keep Dupixent listed

A last minute deal between Sanofi and the Federal Government means Dupixent will stay subsidised on the PBS for the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis, with an increase in the Risk Sharing Agreement (RSA) offset by a lower price.

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said the government had "worked to move heaven and earth to keep this life changing treatment on the PBS", after Sanofi put in a submission at the July 2024 PBAC meeting for it to be delisted for atopic dermatitis from 1 December if a change in pricing arrangements could not be agreed upon.

Such a delisting would be huge. Beyond the $355.8 million Dupixent has earned in pre-rebate R/PBS reimbursements over the past 12 months, an estimated 18,000 people use Dupixent to treat severe eczema, and without subsidisation they would need to pay in the area of $20,000 a year to access the medicine.