The Treatment Outreach Network (TON) is a formal collaboration of HIV community sector professionals working to optimise the overall wellbeing of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia, by providing a high standard of information and current research on issues of health and treatments for HIV.
TON’s role is to provide consistent and up-to-date information to HIV sector professionals working at state and territory HIV community organisations as well as PLHIV. NAPWHA maintains a range of partnerships to ensure the aims of the network are met. The network meets formally once per year and informal communication occurs throughout the rest of the year to continue TON’s work.
NAPWHA’s Treatment Outreach Network – a membership of professionals from Australian State and Territory peer-based organisations and AIDS Councils, held their annual formal meeting via video conferencing in April and November 2021. The Treatment Outreach Network 2020 meeting was also held online during COVID-19 restrictions.
Treatment Outreach Network meeting agenda
Time
Session
11 – 11.15am
Acknowledgement of Country Brief introductions
11.15am – 12.00pm
Treatments and update from European AiDS Clinical Meeting – Presentation and Q&A Damien Fagan – Associate Director, Medical Affairs, HIV (Gilead) NB This is not a Gilead session.
12.00 – 12.15 pm
Break / 15 minutes
12.15 – 12.45pm
NAPWHA Research Literacy and Treatment Initiative – Scoping session to identify research literacy needs Dr Jeanne Ellard – NAPWHA
12.45 – 1.15pm
ARVs and weight gain – Presentation and Q&A Professor Jennifer Hoy – Director HIV Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred
1.15 – 1.30pm
Meeting review and evaluation
1:30pm
Meeting close
ARVs and weight gain
In this presentation to the Treatment Outreach Network, Professor Jennifer Hoy – Director HIV Medicine at Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred, presents a version of What is known about weight gain on INSTI-based regimens?
In this presentation, Dr Jennifer Hoy makes references to:
Michael Silverberg et al, “Changes in body mass index over time in persons with and without HIV.” 23rd International AIDS Conference. (2020) Abstract OAB0603.
Ramgopal M et al. Pooled analysis of 4 international trials of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in adults aged >65 or older demonstrating safety and efficacy: week 48 results. 23rd International AIDS Conference, abstract OAB0403, 2020.
European AIDS Clinical Society, “EACS Guidelines – Version 10.1.” (October 2020) – refer to p. 53 on Dietary Counselling and ART
Additional viewing: Emma Sheldon-Collins, Community Advocate speaking to Dr James McMahon (The Alfred, Victoria) for the HIV ARV Guidelines Session at 2020 Australasian HIV & Sexual Health Conference
About the NAPWHA Treatment Outreach Network
The Treatment Outreach Network (TON) is a formal collaboration of HIV community sector professionals working to optimise the overall wellbeing of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia, by providing a high standard of information and current research on issues of health and treatments for HIV.
TON’s role is to provide consistent and up-to-date information to HIV sector professionals working at state and territory HIV community organisations as well as PLHIV. NAPWHA maintains a range of partnerships to ensure the aims of the network are met. The network meets formally once per year and informal communication occurs throughout the rest of the year to continue TON’s work.
NAPWHA’s Treatment Outreach Network – a membership of professionals from Australian State and Territory peer-based organisations and AIDS Councils, held their bi-annual formal meeting via video conferencing on May 25, 2022. The previous Treatment Outreach Network 2021 meeting was also held online, due to COVID-19 travel complications during that period.
Meeting agenda
Time
Session
11 – 11.15am
Acknowledgement of Country Brief introductions
11.15am – 12.00pm
Injectable Treatments Availability in Australia – Presentation and Q&A Jessica Kent – Associate Director, Medical Science Liaison (ViiV Healthcare Australia) NB This is not a ViiV Healthcare session.
12.00 – 12.15 pm
Break / 15 minutes
12.15 – 12.45pm
NAPWHA Research Literacy and Treatment Initiative – Update session from last TON Meeting 2021– Dr Jeanne Ellard – NAPWHA
12.45 – 1.15pm
NAPWHA’s Cognitive Health initiative – An international collaboration – Presentation and Q&A Associate Professor Lucette A. Cysique, UNSW and St. Vincent’s Hospital
1.15 – 1.30pm
Meeting review and evaluation
1:30pm
Meeting close
Long-Acting Injectables in Australia
In this presentation to the Treatment Outreach Network, Ann Maccerrone and Jessica Kent of ViiV Healthcare Australia present an overview of emerging long-acting HIV injectable antiretroviral therapy. Charlie Tredway, Online Moderator of TIM (The Institute of Many) follows with a community perspective. The session concludes with a Q&A.
In this presentation to the Treatment Outreach Network, Associate Professor Lucette A. Cysique – Senior Researcher and Neuropsychologist at St. Vincent’s Hospital Centre for Medical Research (Sydney, NSW) presents an overview of an emerging research area for Cognitive Health for People living with HIV
The Treatment Outreach Network (TON) is a formal collaboration of HIV community sector professionals working to optimise the overall wellbeing of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia, by providing a high standard of information and current research on issues of health and treatments for HIV.
TON’s role is to provide consistent and up-to-date information to HIV sector professionals working at state and territory HIV community organisations as well as PLHIV. NAPWHA maintains a range of partnerships to ensure the aims of the network are met. The network meets formally once per year and informal communication occurs throughout the rest of the year to continue TON’s work.
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).
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.
