<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A new antibody treatment for severe asthma in children is about to become significantly more affordable for Australian families after it was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dupixent, which is administered via fortnightly injections, targets the source of inflammation associated with asthma.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For the Fishburn family from Sydney's south-west, the treatment has already had a transformative impact on their ten-year-old son, Jak. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-officer-shooting-people-escorted-from-home/58cb7c8b-9cc2-412b-baf9-94a6619eebe4"><strong><span>Accused Porepunkah gunman's wife arrested as 450 cops continue manhunt</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prior to accessing Dupixent through early compassionate access in March, Jak's severe asthma limited his ability to participate in school sporting activities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But that has now been turned around.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I could run, I could play more sport," Jak said. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/health/new-asthma-treatment-pbs/d6dc6b78-0d04-47e7-8311-b32fbaf3a036" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's just changed our lives completely… everything's changed," mother Sarah Fishburn said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Within the first month, we noticed he really didn't wheeze at all. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/matt-wright-jury-deliberations/1723a3f2-df9e-42e3-a68d-bd0bed6f414f"><strong><span>Reality star guilty on two chopper charges</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"By two months, we weren't giving his (preventer) anymore and by three months he hasn't had his ventolin or preventative, we treat him as if he doesn't have asthma."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dupixent previously cost about $1600 per month, however the PBS listing, which will come into effect on Monday, will reduce it to $31.60, or $7.70 for concession card holders.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Having wider access to the treatment for those aged between six and 11 could also help reduce the burden on our hospitals – with 13,500 hospital admissions each year for children under 15 who struggle with asthma across the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Having another tool available to us to try and prevent those hospitalisations is a really good thing," Asthma Australia paediatric adviser Associate Professor Shivanthan Shanthikumar said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This article was produced with the assistance of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><span>9ExPress</span></a><span>.</span></div></div>