Short-term investments in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are predicted to result in long-term cost-savings and promote significant health benefits following its distribution in Germany, according to a new modelling study in Eurosurveillance. Currently, PrEP is not reimbursed in Germany, so patients who use it have to pay the full cost out of pocket.

Researchers found that PrEP could potentially avert 21,000 new HIV infections after 2 years of scale-up and 10 years of full implementation if targeted to the 30% of men who have sex with men (MSM) who reported having the highest number of annual sexual partners and were determined to have the highest risk of contracting HIV.

The total cost of HIV-related care was estimated to be $41.2 billion over a span of 40 years. PrEP could initially raise costs by a maximum of $171 million during the first 10 years of its implementation. However, it has the potential to become cost-saving following the first 10 years after its introduction, when the total savings from averted HIV infections begin to exceed the costs of a PrEP regimen, amassing a total savings of $5.8 billion towards HIV-related spending by 2058. Upon sensitivity analysis, PrEP could still cut costs at a 70% price reduction of antiretroviral drug treatment and lower levels of effectiveness. Read more via AJMC

Van de Vijver D, Richter A, Boucher C, et al. Cost-effectiveness and budget effect of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-1 prevention in Germany from 2018 to 2058. Euro Surveill. 2019;24(7). doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.7.1800398.