We need your help. Help us get anifrolumab injections on the PBS for people with lupus.

Australians with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can currently only get subsidised access to the game-changing biologic, anifrolumab (Saphnelo®) via intravenous infusion. However, a new self-injected subcutaneous (beneath the surface of the skin) version is now being considered for subsidy through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). We need your help to We need your help to make this happen.

What is SLE?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue and organs. This leads to long-term inflammation, swelling, pain and damage that can affect many different body systems, including the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, joints and skin. SLE is one of several forms of lupus.

What is Anifrolumab?

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly treats healthy cells as though they were viruses or other forms of infection. Oral disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) work by suppressing the activity of the whole immune system. Biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) target specific parts of the immune system involved in related autoimmune conditions. Anifrolumab targets and suppresses only the immune cells that drive SLE.

Anifrolumab is only subsidised through the PBS to people with severe SLE who meet the strict access requirements.

What is the Difference Between Anifrolumab Infusions and Injections?

Anifrolumab intravenous infusions can only be administered into the bloodstream by trained healthcare professionals, such as nurses or doctors, in approved clinical settings. Infusions take around 30 minutes each time and are usually repeated every four weeks.

In contrast, the proposed version of anifrolumab can be self-injected by patients once a week at home using pre-filled syringes that are quick and easy to use. Self-injected biologics give patients the convenience of managing their treatment at home, rather than needing to set aside hours (or even days) and spending money to travel to a clinic to access infusions. Above all, it gives them back more time to spend on daily activities and being with loved ones. This is why we really want to have a subcutaneous version of anifrolumab listed on the PBS.

What We’d Like You to Do

The PBAC welcomes submissions from patients, carers, health professionals, consumer groups or organisations and members of the public on medicines submitted for PBAC consideration.

CreakyJoints Australia would like to collate your comments into a single submission and send it to the PBAC on your behalf. Your comments can respond to any or all of the following questions:

For those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) already accessing anifrolumab via intravenous infusions, let us know why you would like the convenience of administering it yourself via subcutaneous injection.

For those who use biologics via subcutaneous injection for other autoimmune conditions, let us know how having the option to inject it yourself makes your life easier.

You are welcome to provide any additional comments you would like the PBAC to consider.

How to Submit Your Comments to Us

Please send your responses to us by:

  • Typing your comments into a Word document and attaching that to your email OR
  • Typing your comments directly into your email.

Your comments can be as simple as a few bullet points or as long as two or three paragraphs.

Please email your comments to Rosemary Ainley at rainley@ghlf.org.au no later than 5 pm on Tuesday, 5 May 2026. We will collate your replies into a single submission and send it to the PBAC on your behalf.

If you wish to make your own submission directly to the PBAC, you can do so at ohta-consultations.health.gov.au/ohta/pbac-july-2026. You are welcome to contact us for tips on writing your own effective submission.

 

Kind regards,

The CreakyJoints Australia team

 

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