Neffy PBS subsidy starts on 1 July 2026
Eligible Australians at risk of anaphylaxis will be able to access neffy on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 1 July 2026. CSL Seqirus welcomed the listing in Melbourne on 30 June 2026.
Neffy is an adrenaline, or epinephrine, nasal spray. PBS reimbursement covers emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in adults and children aged four years and over who weigh 15kg or more.
Before the PBS decision, patients could only get neffy on a private prescription. From 1 July 2026, the listing expands subsidised access for people who prefer a nasal spray instead of an injected device.
Anaphylaxis can follow exposure to allergens such as food, medications, insect bites and insect stings. The reaction can be life threatening if adrenaline is not given without delay.
Adrenaline rapidly reduces throat swelling, opens the airways, and helps maintain heart function and blood pressure. Doctors use it as the first emergency treatment for anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis admissions in Australia
Australia has one of the highest documented rates of anaphylaxis hospital admissions in the developed world. Between 2015 and 2020, Australian public hospitals reported a 51% increase in emergency department presentations and a 35% increase in hospitalisations due to anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis rates have also increased over recent decades from 30 June 2026.
Professor Connie Katelaris AM, a leading NSW allergist, called the reimbursement an important development for Australians at risk of anaphylaxis. She said: “Previously only available as private prescription, PBS listing of neffy gives more Australian patients the ability to access neffy should this be their preferred adrenaline device for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis.”
Professor Katelaris also said subsidised adrenaline options give Australians living with anaphylaxis and their doctors more choice in treatment options.
Maria Said AM, Health Strategy and Advocacy Manager at Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, said the risk of anaphylaxis can shape daily life. She cited eating at restaurants, attending social events and travelling as situations that often require planning and vigilance.
For parents and carers of children at risk of anaphylaxis, play dates, parties and school excursions can require added preparation, according to Ms Said.
Ms Said said: “People living with severe allergies know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing anaphylaxis. The reimbursement of a treatment option that does not require injection provides patients with more choice to determine what may work best for them.”
Associate Professor Kristina Rueter, chair of the Anaphylaxis Committee at the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, said ASCIA had updated its anaphylaxis guidelines, training modules and resources to include neffy.
Common side effects reported for neffy include headache, nasal discomfort, throat irritation and feeling jittery. The PBS listing takes effect on 1 July 2026.
