Positive Life NSW

Lance Feeney updates Talkabout readers on where we're at advocating for your rights.

Scupltra is used for the treatment of facial lipoatrophy (facial wasting) in people with HIV. The pharmaceutical company applied for listing of the drug at the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) November meeting. A recommendation for listing by the PBAC would mean that the cost to the patient is subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Currently one treatment of Sculptra in both cheeks may cost in the vicinity of $700.

The National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA), Positive Life NSW and ACON have been working to get Sculptra listed by the PBS. You can read our submission to the PBAC, which is available on our website at: http://positivelife.org.au/content/submissions

Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) makes recommendations and gives advice to the Minister about which drugs should be made available.

The Committee considers both the effectiveness and cost of a proposed drug compared to alternative therapies. The Committee can either recommend a drug

• be listed,
• not recommend a dug be listed
• or defer the matter for further consideration.

PBAC decision

Although the PBAC recognises a clinical need for the drug, it rejected Sculptra on the “first time” application because of uncertain cost effectiveness. In response, Sanofi-Aventis will work with the PBAC to try and find a way forward for the benefit of people with HIV.

Jo Watson, Executive Director of NAPWA (the National Association of People with HIV/AIDS), reports that the PBAC has invited Sanofi-Aventis to make a new submission to the committee in 2009. Sanofi-Aventis has agreed. However, a decision regarding the re-application for PBS listing of Sculptra by the company would be unlikely before the middle of 2009.

Positive Life will continue to advocate and work with NAPWA and ACON, the PBAC and manufacturers who produce effective and affordable treatment for facial lipoatrophy.