Australia to invest $10 million to expand access to ADHA drug Intuniv

22 February 2019

The Australian government will invest A$10 million ($7.1 million) to expand access to a medicine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Intuniv (guanfacine) for the treatment of ADHD will be made available as an add-on therapy to other ADHD medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from March 1 this year. Intuniv was developed by Ireland-based rare diseases specialist Shire, which is now a part of Japan’s Takeda (TYO: 4502).
Without subsidy patients would pay over A$1,600 per year for this treatment. Under the PBS the price goes down to just A$40.30 per script, or A$6.50 for concessional patients.

This medicine helps improve attention, concentration and makes patients less impulsive and hyperactive. ADHD affects one in 20 Australians, that’s 1.2 million people, but is frequently misunderstood and undiagnosed.

This PBS listing was recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).

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