Six-month reprieve for patients on emphysema drug

Patients set to lose access to a drug the State has refused to reimburse have been granted a six-month reprieve as the manufacturer says it will continue to supply it free of charge.

However the commitment extends only to the start of a new trial of the drug in the spring, and not beyond June 30, CSL Behring said.

The company is due to start a new clinical trial of Respreeza — the only therapy known to slow the progression of genetic emphysema.