People with facial lipoatrophy are eagerly awaiting the decision by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to have the facial filler, Sculptra, listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. (PBS).
A submission by sanofi-aventis, the company that markets Sculptra, was turned down late last year but another version is being submitted in March.
While the expert assessment committee has noted the clinicalPertaining to or founded on observation and treatment of participants, as distinguished from theoretical or basic science. need for treatment interventions for this condition, further analysis of the costing issues proposed by the company is required.
Sculptra costs around $700 per vial and a treatment may take around four vials (two per cheek) and last for up to 18 months. But the quantity of product and frequency it is required can vary considerably between patients.
NAPWA supported the original PBAC submission with a detailed patient impact statement including the proven need for such a support scheme and the successes that could be achieved as a result.
Last year, a special access program negotiated between NAPWA and sanofi-aventis provided free treatment to 200 people on limited incomes across the country.
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