The decision is a blow for HIV advocacy groups, which had previously hailed the listing of Truvada – the only drug recommended for HIV prevention regime PrEP – on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as a crucial step for prevention efforts in Australia.



On Friday a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefit Advisory Committee (PBAC) said the drug would be too expensive and that the cost-effectiveness estimates provided were unreliable.

Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer of Truvada, had estimated the cost of the drug based on a small eligible population with a high risk of contracting HIV. However, PBAC said it would be more appropriate for a "broader group of individuals" to access the medication.

The recommendation described the proposed cost of treating a person at high risk of HIV, estimated at $105,000–$200,000 over a lifetime, as "unacceptably high and uncertain".



Gilead said the company had used the World Health Organization recommendation for PrEP suitability to identify the eligible population. However, it noted PBAC's concerns and stated its commitment to working towards a future listing.

