This document outlines details of PBS-subsidised biological medicines for patients with severe asthma (SA).
For information on how to process a PBS Authority, see Processing Complex Authority Required Listings.
On this page:
Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - paediatric (patients aged 6 to 11 years old)
Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - adolescent and adult (patients aged 12 years or older)
Delayed assessment
Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - paediatric (patients aged 6 to 11 years old)
Table 1
Restrictions | Authority level and section | PA assessment | Processing system | Prescriber type | Prescriber self-serve |
Initial or recommencement after a break (at least 12 months) PB188 form | Written Electronic S100: dupilumab omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician, in consultation with a respiratory physician, or
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used) |
Initial grandfather PB386 form | Written Electronic S100: dupilumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician, in consultation with a respiratory physician, or
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used) |
Change PB385 form | Written Electronic S100: dupilumab omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician, in consultation with a respiratory physician, or
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used) |
Continuing PB385 form | Written Electronic S100: dupilumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician, in consultation with a respiratory physician, or
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| Yes |
Continuing - originator | Telephone Electronic S100: omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician in consultation with a respiratory physician, or
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| Yes |
Continuing - biosimilar | Streamlined S100: omalizumab | No | N/A | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician in consultation with a respiratory physician, or
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| N/A |
Balance of supply | Telephone Electronic S100: dupilumab omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - paediatric respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist
- paediatrician in consultation with a respiratory physician
- general physician in consultation with a respiratory physician
| Yes |
Severe asthma (SA) quick reference - adolescent and adult (patients aged 12 years or older)
Table 2
Restrictions | Authority level and section | PA assessment | Processing system | Prescriber type | Prescriber self-serve |
Initial or recommencement after a break (at least 12 months) PB075 form | Written Electronic S100: benralizumab dupilumab mepolizumab omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist, or
- general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma
| Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used) |
Change PB285 form | Written Electronic S100: benralizumab dupilumab mepolizumab omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist, or
- general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma
| Yes - immediate or delayed assessment (delayed if any free text option used) |
Continuing PB076 form | Written Electronic S100: benralizumab dupilumab mepolizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist, or
- general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma
| Yes |
Continuing - originator | Telephone Electronic S100: omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist, or
- general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma
| Yes |
Continuing - biosimilar | Streamlined S100: omalizumab | No | N/A | Must be treated by a: - respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist, or
- general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma
| N/A |
Balance of supply | Telephone Electronic S100: benralizumab mepolizumab omalizumab | No | OPA | Must be treated by a: - respiratory physician
- clinical immunologist
- allergist, or
- general physician experienced in the management of patients with severe asthma
| Yes |
Delayed assessment
Delayed assessment due to contraindication and/or intolerance to optimised asthma therapy.
Table 3: this table lists the details of what to check for the delayed assessment and common acronyms.
Service Officers to assess free text is: | Examples | Outcome |
Relevant to the question | - Hypersensitivity to any components of the formulation
- Gastrointestinal adverse reactions
| Approve |
Random text | - Happy Birthday
- Patient did not want to take
- Ikasditbn
| Reject |
Non-descriptive | - Toxicity
- Intolerance
- Ineffective
| Reject |
Common acronyms
- LFT - Liver function tests
- GI toxicity - Gastrointestinal
- N+V - Nausea and vomiting
Escalate to a Pharmaceutical Adviser (PA) by phone if unsure of acronym used.