Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to delist Stribild® and Eviplera® from 1 March 2020

October 1, 2019

Eviplera and Stribild illustration

NAPWHA wish to update our HIV community/ies and organisational members that from 1 March 2020 the Single Tablet Regimen (STR) HIV treatments Eviplera ® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, emtricitabine and rilpivirine) and Stribild ® (cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) will no longer be available via the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

While transition to newer medicines may be a common part of a drug life cycle, any change requires time for adjustment. Therefore, if you are someone (or working with persons) who will be affected with this change, we strongly encourage you to start consulting with your healthcare professional (prescribing S100 physician or treatment officer) to assist in transitioning to an alternative therapy, well before the delisting comes into effect on 1 March 2020.

This delisting may affect pregnant women and women wishing to conceive, individuals who are already tolerating these regimens and wish to continue them, and individuals who may switch to these regimens for other reasons.

For those who have a medical need for a specific treatment and cannot switch to or be initiated on an alternative PBS-reimbursed regimen, it may be possible for your healthcare professional to apply to Gilead (the pharmaceutical company of these delisted treatment) for compassionate access consideration.

NAPWHA will continue to provide any further information in the coming months as information is released from Gilead Science, and from ASHM (who as the national accreditation CPD provider for HIV S100 Community Prescribing in Australia provides communiques on behalf of their ARV Guideline Committee).

For further NAPWHA inquiries contact Saysana Sirimanotham, Communication and Community Engagement: info@napwha.org.au

Information of Truvada and Atripla delisting

April 1, 2020

NAPWHA and AFAO wish to update our HIV community/ies and organisational members that from 1 April 2020 Truvada ® for HIV treatment and for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will no longer be available through the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

There are alternatives to Truvada ® for PrEP in Australia. Community members eligible for PrEP can access generic versions of Truvada supplied by Apotex, Mylan and Lupin Generic Health. The drugs manufactured by these three suppliers contain the same active ingredients as Truvada.

In addition, from October 2020 Atripla ® will be delisted. A generic equivalent of Atripla has been approved by the PBS for community members who wish to continue using Atripla.

We encourage you to talk to your prescribing doctor if you want more information about these changes.

For more information, visit the following websites:

Download a PDF version of 'Information of Truvada and Atripla delisting' sector release

Managing community concerns about ARV supply

April 3, 2020

The importance of consistent HIV health sector messaging

The current COVID-19 crisis has raised concerns about HIV treatment supply in Australia. Despite continued assurances that supply is not, nor is likely to be compromised, rumours to the contrary persist.

This speculation has the potential to raise anxiety levels and cause consumer panic. Maintaining message consistency across the HIV health workforce is vitally important at this time.

When patients or customers register concern about the supply of HIV medications, please reassure them with the following messages:

  1. The pharmaceutical companies that supply antiretrovirals (ARVs) in Australia have given assurances that there is no shortage. There are enough HIV treatments in the country right now to meet the needs of people with HIV for many months.
  2. Stock-outs or delays in re-stocking ARVs at a local pharmacy does not mean that national supply is limited.
  3. In the unlikely event of an impending shortage of a particular ARV, the TGA would add it to this publicly available list and then take action to ensure ongoing access for people living with HIV taking that medication. NB: There are no ARVs currently on this TGA list.
  4. It is important to keep taking HIV treatments as prescribed. People with HIV should not skip doses or share medication with friends who are worried about their own supply.
  5. Prescriptions for ARVs are currently limited to two months’ supply at a time and this is standard for everyone. To minimise trips to the pharmacy, arrangements are in place so people living with HIV can have their medications posted to them. For more information about this issue please talk with your pharmacist.

NAPWHA has issued this communication with Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) on 3 April 2020.

Download a PDF version of 'Managing community concerns about ARV supply' sector release
Access COVID-19 Information

Accessing HIV treatments during COVID-19

April 30, 2020

Note: This circulation further updates a communication from 3 April 2020 — Managing community concerns about ARV supply: The importance of consistent HIV health sector messaging

Australia still has ample supplies of all HIV medications

The pharmaceutical companies who provide antiretroviral medications in Australia would like to reassure people living with HIV (PLHIV) that there are still healthy supplies of HIV treatments in the country. What’s more, they do not anticipate any disruption to supply in the near future.

PLHIV are encouraged to keep ordering their medications as usual and to keep taking them as prescribed. People with HIV should not skip doses or share medication with friends who are worried about their own supply.

Gilead is providing free postage of medications

In order to avoid going out, PLHIV can now have their HIV treatments posted to them at home by asking their doctor to forward scripts directly to the pharmacy (by email or fax).

Most pharmacies are dispensing the full script (4 or 6 months worth) but only providing 2 months supply at first, and then posting the next lot out at the appropriate time. A few pharmacies are only dispensing one month’s supply at first, but also providing the rest by post.

PLHIV are encouraged to request this postal service if it isn’t offered.

Any pharmacist can access free prepaid post bags by contacting Gilead Sciences in their Melbourne offices on (03) 9272 4400.

ViiV and Gilead expand Compassionate Access for PLHIV stuck in Australia

There are many PLHIV who are residents in Australia but are not eligible for a Medicare card and so are unable to access subsidised HIV treatments through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Some of these PLHIV are on Temporary Visas and return to their home countries regularly to fill their HIV prescriptions. But this is impossible at the moment. Which is why Australian pharmaceutical companies have expanded their Compassionate Access Schemes to allow people who are stuck in the country to get access to HIV treatments.

PLHIV in this situation are encouraged to talk to any GP who specialises in HIV (an HIV s100 prescriber) or any doctor at a Sexual Health Clinic. The doctor will contact the relevant pharmaceutical company who supplies the particular treatment and, if approved, will provide them with two months supply free of charge.

Download this Sector Release 'Accessing HIV treatments during COVID-19' [PDF]

Information of Prezista® (darunavir) 150 mg delisting

October 13, 2020

From 1 November 2020, Prezista® (darunavir) 150 mg tablets, used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for HIV treatment, will be discontinued for supply in Australia and removed from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

This delisting may affect HIV treatment-experienced paediatric patients aged 6 years and older – where Prezista® (darunavir) 150 mg strength is typically used in combination treatment.

The pharmaceutical provider, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd (‘Janssen’), make note that the discontinuation of the 150 mg dosage form does not impact on the supply of the 600 mg and 800 mg tablet strengths.

Therefore, if you are someone (or working with persons) who will be affected with this change, we strongly encourage you to start consulting with your healthcare professional (prescribing S100 physician or treatment officer).

Related links