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GLP-1 RAs and rare, but severe, eye disorders
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Product warnings across the GLP-1 RA class of medicines have been updated due to the potential for these products to cause a rare, but severe, form of eye disorder.
The high-profile glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) class of prescription medicines are used primarily to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity.
The eye disorder, non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, is a rare condition that may result in permanent visual impairment, including blindness, and no treatment has been shown to improve visual acuity outcomes.
We ask healthcare professionals to be alert to the new class-wide warnings in the Product Information (PI) documents for GLP-1 RAs.
Please advise patients to seek urgent medical attention if they experience sudden vision loss, including partial loss of vision.
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Review of the benefits and risks of TAVNEOS (avacopan)
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We are undertaking a review of the benefits and risks of TAVNEOS (avacopan). TAVNEOS is a medicine used in the treatment of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, a rare autoimmune condition that affects small blood vessels.
We will provide further information, including any updated advice for healthcare professionals and patients when available.
Healthcare professionals should carefully consider the benefits and risks of TAVNEOS on an individual patient basis.
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Register now for the Unique Device Identification (UDI) information session
We are hosting an information session with NSW Health on Thursday 10 September 2026 in Surry Hills, Sydney. The workshop is for healthcare organisations and clinical quality registries to learn about improving medical device traceability and patient safety through Unique Device Identification (UDI).
Participants will hear from us on Australia's UDI system, a global expert on lessons from international implementations, the Australian Digital Health Agency and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
To secure your place, please register as soon as possible. In-person attendance is limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are unable to attend in person, please join us virtually to partcipate in the session.
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Have your say on sharing medical device safety information
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We want to hear from you on our proposed changes to improve the sharing information about the safety, quality and performance of medical devices.
We are proposing changes that would allow us to share more information with the public about post-market reviews or investigations of medical devices, particularly where the findings relate to their safety, quality, performance or use.
Due to current legislative constraints, we experienced challenges sharing information during the COVID-19 pandemic about safety, quality or performance of certain medical devices. We worked closely with sponsors, manufacturers and health authorities to share information where possible to support the pandemic response in a timely way. These challenges with the legislative constraints still exist where regulatory action has been undertaken.
The proposed changes would also support greater transparency, where medical devices are investigated and there is no action required or the medical devices are compliant.
Sharing more information would enhance our existing ability to protect public health and safety, improve transparency and foster trust with the regulatory system. This would reduce effort by users who currently seek information directly from the sponsor or manufacturer.
You can help us with feedback on:
- if we should publicly share information about medical devices involved in a post-market review or investigation, and
- what types of information should be shared when a post-market review or investigation is being undertaken.
Submit your feedback by Friday 2 October 2026.
We will also hold online information sessions on Tuesday 15 September 2026. There will be an afternoon and evening session. At the sessions, we will provide an overview, explain the proposed changes and benefits.
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Substitutions available for shortage of Dapsone 25 mg tablets
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Link Medical Products has advised us that Dapsone 25 mg tablets will be in shortage until 31 December 2026 due to manufacturing issues. This brand is the only 25 mg strength of dapsone tablet registered in Australia.
Dapsone is an anti-infective medicine which also has anti-inflammatory effects. It is used to treat dermatitis herpetiformis, leprosy and actinomycotic mycetoma.
Dapsomed (dapsone) 50 mg tablets, an alternative strength, are expected to remain available during the shortage. These tablets can be split in half to get a 25 mg dose.
To support the use of the alternative strength of tablet in this way, we have made a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument (SSSI) that is active between 14 August 2026 and 31 January 2027.
The SSSI allows a pharmacist to provide 50 mg dapsone tablets in place of 25 mg tablets without a new prescription.
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© 2026 Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
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