Breztri Aerosphere to be listed on PBS from November 1 to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Australians living with the nation’s fifth leading cause of death will have access to a new treatment from Monday — combining three medications in one device to make it easier for patients to administer. The medicine named Breztri Aerosphere will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from November 1 to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — a progressive and debilitating disease that restricts airflow in the lungs. About 8.3 per cent of Australians aged 40 years and above have some form of the disease. In WA, it is as high as 12 per cent in adults over the age of 45 and increases significantly with age. Alarmingly, around one in five people with the disease die within one year of their first hospitalisation for an exacerbation. Perth’s Cathy Bowlay was diagnosed with the condition five years ago and said she was “badly restricted” with what she could do based on her breathing. “Things I took for granted are a huge struggle nowadays. Cleaning my house (and) making my bed is something I need help with now, which is very humiliating for me,” Ms Bowlay told The West Australian. The 60-year-old started using Breztri Aerosphere earlier this month after an exacerbation that put her in hospital. It is a puffer containing three active ingredients — budesonide, glycopyrronium and formoterol fumarate — that work together to reduce and prevent inflammation in the lungs as well as stopping the tightening of the muscles. “I definitely noticed a difference in my breathing but am not expecting improvements in a hurry,” she said. “It’s a slow process but any help is so very much appreciated. Some days are better than others.” University of Notre Dame Respiratory Medicine Professor Dr Peter Bremner told The West the new treatment had shown to reduce the risk of exacerbations in severe cases of the disease. “Exacerbations of COPD are a marker of a poor outcome with reduced quality of life and a significantly increased risk of death,” Dr Bremner said. “Mortality following an admission to hospital with an exacerbation of COPD is significantly worse than for an admission to hospital with a heart attack. “Breztri works by providing anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator treatment to the lungs at the same time, both of which have benefits in the group of patients for whom it should be prescribed.”