Needle-Free Allergy Spray Neffy to Be Added to PBS from 1 July
29 Jun 2026
From 1 July, the nasal spray Neffy will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) after receiving approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration in December.
Neffy is used to treat type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The PBS listing will make it more affordable for children aged four years and older who weigh at least 15 kg, as well as adults at significant risk of anaphylaxis who already have an adrenaline prescription.
Without the PBS subsidy, a pack containing two single-dose 1 mg or 2 mg nasal sprays costs more than $95.
Dr Nick Cooling, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Allergy, described Neffy as the biggest advance in adrenaline treatment in the past 20 years.
He said the nasal spray could replace adrenaline injections for most patients aged four years and older, making emergency treatment easier and more comfortable.
For patients already prescribed adrenaline, Dr Cooling said GPs can simply prescribe Neffy instead of injection devices when they need a new script.
The PBS listing comes as cases of anaphylaxis continue to rise in Australia. Between 2015 and 2020, hospital presentations increased by 51%, while hospital admissions rose by 35%, according to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Dr Cooling said Neffy allows people to give themselves adrenaline sooner and with greater confidence. He added that the easy-to-use nasal spray could help patients feel safer, especially parents caring for children with severe allergies.
Neffy is one of 10 new medicines joining the PBS from 1 July. Other additions include treatments for severe asthma, growth hormone deficiency, type 1 diabetes, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, myasthenia gravis, non-small cell lung cancer, HER2-positive early breast cancer, and advanced cholangiocarcinoma.
Needle-Free Allergy Spray Neffy to Be Added to PBS from 1 July
Source: newsGP