ACON, NSW’s leading HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI* health organisation has welcomed today’s decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to license the use of Truvada: arguably one of the most significant developments in HIV prevention in 30 years.

Announced today, Truvada – the brand name drug made by Gilead that is used as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) – has been listed for prevention purposes on the Register of Therapeutic Goods following years of advocacy by organisations including ACON and our many partners.

PrEP is an antiretroviral treatment taken by HIV negative people at high risk of acquiring HIV to prevent infection. Studies have shown that PrEP is extremely effective at preventing HIV transmission, and recent demonstration projects in Australia have continued to show strong results.

Today’s decision brings Australia into line with other countries that have approved the use of Truvada as PrEP, including the United States, Canada, France and South Africa.

ACON President Dr Justin Koonin says ACON is excited to be continuing to work to ensure that PrEP is accessible to all gay men, including trans gay men, in our community. “Today’s announcement from the TGA is truly very important and we are thrilled that this important milestone has been achieved.”

“ACON congratulates the TGA on this significant outcome. PrEP works and alongside high HIV testing rates among gay men, strong treatment uptake among people with HIV and the continuing high rates of condom use, we have the tools to end transmission by 2020.” Koonin added.

CEO Nicolas Parkhill congratulated the NSW government for the leadership it has shown on PrEP.

“We have seen significant policy leadership at the state level from NSW Health Minster Jillian Skinner, including through the development and funding of the EPIC-NSW study which has scope for 3,700 people to commence PrEP.”

“Along with similar trial expansions in Victoria and Queensland, the access to PrEP across Australia continues to grow and the way it has been used demonstrates that gay men are seeking to proactively take control of their sexual health, their partners and their community.”

“State governments are seizing the opportunity that PrEP offers and leading the way in providing access but ultimately the long term financial responsibility for PrEP needs to be embedded through a PBS listing.”

“One person is diagnosed with HIV every day in NSW alone. ACON believes that PrEP subsidisation is an efficiency measure as the total cost of treatment over a lifetime is far greater than prevention measures such as PrEP.”

Breakthroughs in other areas relating to prevention such as undetectable viral loads have had played a pivotal role in the effort to reduce HIV transmission.

The approval of PrEP will see the addition of a powerful tool to work alongside treatment as prevention and condoms to further give gay men in the community options to take control of their sexual health.

“PrEP has the ability to change the course of HIV in a truly historic way but its potential will only be fully realised if all barriers to access are removed, namely cost. Without being added to the PBS, full-price Truvada remains out of reach for a significant majority of those at risk of acquiring HIV.” Parkhill says.

The approval announced by the TGA is only for brand-name Truvada and does not cover generic versions of the drug. Currently affordable access to PrEP for gay men, who are not on one of the various state-based trials, is only available to those that import generic Truvada from overseas pharmacies.

Without addition to the PBS, the somewhat protracted and occasionally problematic process of self-importation remains the most affordable means by which gay men can access PrEP. However, despite self-importation being cheaper, for many gay men the cost remains too high.

“Costs associated with PrEP are a primary concern to ACON and gay men should not be priced out of one of the most significant development in HIV prevention in 30 years.” Parkhill said.

“The two-year EPIC trial will end and before that time comes, movement is needed to ensure that PrEP is affordable and accessible.”

For more information about PrEP, please visit: www.endinghiv.org.au/nsw/prep

ENDS

For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications Officer
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042