In short:
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has registered a new add-on biologic treatment for severe eosinophilic asthma and a related nasal condition, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. The therapy is administered just twice a year and targets the underlying inflammation driving both conditions, offering a lower-burden option for the estimated 200,000 Australians living with severe asthma.
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A new option for a serious, often misunderstood disease
Severe asthma is a persistent, hard-to-control form of asthma marked by daily symptoms and frequent flare-ups despite patients following their prescribed treatment. One subtype, severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA), involves an excess of eosinophils — a type of white blood cell — building up in the blood and lungs. That excess drives inflammation and raises the risk of asthma attacks.
A related condition, chronic rhinosinusitis, affects up to one in ten Australians. Around 25 to 30 per cent of those patients also develop nasal polyps — soft, jelly-like growths inside the nose — a combination known as chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Like SEA, it’s often driven by the same underlying eosinophilic inflammation.
The newly TGA-registered therapy is a monoclonal antibody that works by targeting interleukin-5 (IL-5), a protein that drives the production of eosinophils. By reducing eosinophil levels, it aims to address the inflammation at the root of both conditions rather than just managing symptoms as they occur.
Why the approval matters
The treatment’s twice-yearly dosing schedule is a significant departure from many existing severe asthma therapies, which typically require far more frequent dosing or ongoing daily medication. Specialists say that reduced treatment burden can make a meaningful difference for patients who already juggle complex, long-term management routines.
The toll of severe asthma on the health system underscores why new options matter. Hospital records show roughly 32,000 asthma-related hospitalisations across 2023 and 2024, and about 60,300 emergency department visits for asthma in 2024 and 2025. People with severe or poorly controlled asthma are also more likely to report a reduced quality of life, with symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and sudden, serious attacks making everyday activities like working, shopping or walking short distances difficult.
A long and complex treatment journey
Professor Jo Douglass, a specialist physician and Professor of Medicine at the University of Melbourne, says patients with SEA and CRSwNP often cycle through multiple treatments over many years without lasting relief.
“The treatment journey for people living with severe eosinophilic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps can be long and complex. Many people require multiple treatments throughout their lives, yet may still face ongoing, potentially life-threatening, breathing difficulties or exacerbations that can require emergency medical care,” Professor Douglass said.
She says the approval reflects a broader shift in how severe eosinophilic asthma and CRSwNP are being managed, with targeted biologic therapies increasingly available to interrupt the specific inflammatory pathways driving these conditions.
“Having a growing range of treatment options for eligible patients with severe eosinophilic asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps can help reduce the burden of these diseases,” Professor Douglass said.
What comes next
The treatment is indicated for eligible patients aged 12 and over with severe eosinophilic asthma who remain inadequately controlled on standard inhaled therapies, and for adults with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps not adequately controlled by other treatments. As with any new therapy, it will be prescribed at a specialist’s discretion based on individual patient assessment.
Anyone experiencing persistent asthma symptoms despite standard treatment — regular flare-ups, frequent reliance on reliever medication, or symptoms that disrupt sleep or daily life — is encouraged to speak with their GP or a respiratory specialist about further assessment and whether newer treatment options may be appropriate.
This article is general health reporting and does not constitute medical advice. Anyone concerned about asthma symptoms should consult their doctor.
