Combination inhaler listed on PBS for asthma

Atectura Breezhaler, a fixed dose combination (FDC) of the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) mometasone furoate with long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) indacaterol, has been listed on the PBS for the maintenance treatment of asthma. The listing was based on a recommendation by the PBAC in July 2020, which noted  that it was the first ICS/LABA FDC listed for asthma that required capsules to be loaded by the patient prior to use, which may add to this confusion for patients. The National Asthma Council has therefore prepared an instruction video on use of the device is available on their webpage.

13 recommendations on severe asthma diagnosis and management

New recommendations have been released on the diagnosis and management of severe asthma based on consensus positions agreed in three Australia-New Zealand clinician forums. Based on the discussions at the meetings convened by the Centre of Excellence in Severe Asthma and held between 2015 and 2018, clinicians also identified a range of activities and resources required for the implementation of recommendations into practice. The recommended approaches included a focus on reducing the use of oral corticosteroids, emphasising targeted treatment and addressing negative health behaviours and risk factors.

Australian first for silicosis compo

In a legal case that lawyers say is an Australian first, workplace insurers have agreed to compensation for  a silicosis case in which a woman who was exposed to silica dust that led to her autoimmune disease. Dianne Adams, 58, won her claim against WorkSafe that the silicosis she developed after working at silica milling factories was likely related to the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Shine Lawyers is representing seven former workers who are making compensation claims after being diagnosed with silicosis and autoimmune diseases.