New treatment options for mild asthma

There has been an update to the way we approach treating mild asthma, with the inclusion of a dual purpose reliever (budesonide/formoterol): which relieves symptoms and reduces the risk of serious flare-ups by treating inflamed airways.

There are now three options to manage symptoms in mild asthma for adults and adolescents over 12 years in Australia. 

  1. Regular low-dose preventer plus blue/grey reliever as needed 
  2. Dual purpose reliever (budesonide/formoterol) to be used as needed  
  3. Blue/grey reliever to be used as needed to treat symptoms 

Read more about the new dual purpose reliever treatment option here.

Download know your options – updated treatment options for mild asthma

Know your options mild asthma

New or updated medications

13/7/21

Atectura Breezhaler

Atectura Breezhaler (mometasone/indacaterol) is a combination preventer inhaler available by prescription only for adults and adolescents 12 years and over with moderate to severe asthma.

The Atectura Breezhaler is a new addition to the list of combination preventer medicines.

  • It is a single daily dose regime due to the long lasting effects of the two medicines it contains: mometasone and indacaterol
  • It is delivered by the Breezhaler device which may be a new device for people with asthma. See below for device use instructions
  • The Breezhaler device requires the preparation of a capsule inside the device, which may be new for people with asthma
  • The capsule is to be used with the device and not swallowed

Atectura Breezhaler comes in three different dose strengths and your doctor will prescribe the dose strength which is the right one for you.

Read more about Atectura Breezhaler here.

Enerzair Breezhaler

14/7/21

Asthma Australia welcomes Enerzair Breezhaler, the first triple therapy in fixed dose combination to be made available in Australia for people with difficult to treat asthma. Enerzair Breezhaler contains the active ingredients (indacaterol, glycopyrronium, mometasone furoate).

The new Enerzair Breezhaler is a new addition to the list of combination preventer medicines.   

  • It is a single daily dose regime due to the long-lasting effects of the three medicines it contains indacaterol, glycopyrronium, and mometasone. It is delivered by the Breezhaler device which may be a new device for people with asthma. See below for device use instructions 
  • The Breezhaler device requires the loading of a capsule inside the device, which may be new for people with asthma 
  • The capsule is to be used with the device and not swallowed.  

Read more in our latest media release here or read more via our information page here.

Dupixent (dupilumab)

Asthma Australia welcomes Dupixent (dupliumab), a new monoclonal antibody therapy for people who live with severe uncontrolled asthma caused by type 2 inflammation (allergic or eosinophilic).

Dupixent (dupliumab) should be prescribed by a specialist experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, for adults and adolescents 12 years and over, and presents another treatment option, now within greater reach of more Australians through the PBS listing. The medication is also suitable for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) and has also recently been listed under the PBS for this indication.

To read more about Dupixent (dupliumab) and its treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma, read the joint media release by Sanofi and Asthma Australia or view our Dupixent explainer page here.

Other recent changes

 

GSK is a campaign partner of Asthma Australia and has not been involved in the development of this webpage.