title: A cost-effectiveness analysis of HIV preexposure prophylaxis for men who have sex with men in Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antiretroviral therapy (ART) used as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative individuals reduces the risk of acquiring HIV. However, the population-level impact and cost-effectiveness of using PrEP as a public health intervention remains debated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a stochastic agent-based model of HIV transmission and progression to simulate the clinical and cost outcomes of different strategies of providing PrEP to men who have sex with men (MSM) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Model outcomes were reported as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) in 2013 Australian dollars per quality-adjusted life-year gained (QALYG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of PrEP in 10%-30% of the entire NSW MSM population was projected to cost an additional $316-$952 million over the course of 10 years, and cost >$400 000 per QALYG compared with the status quo. Targeting MSM with sexual partners ranging between >10 to >50 partners within 6 months cost an additional $31-$331 million dollars, and cost >$110 000 per QALYG compared with the status quo. We found that preexposure prophylaxis is most cost-effective when targeted for HIV-negative MSM in a discordant regular partnership. The ICERs ranged between $8399 and $11 575, for coverage ranging between 15% and 30%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Targeting HIV-negative MSM in a discordant regular partnership is a cost-effective intervention. However, this highly targeted strategy would not have large population-level impact. Other scenarios are unlikely to be cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001315:Australia; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000191:economics*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008571:Men; D018803:Models, Economic; D008962:Models, Theoretical
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: HIV prevention; cost-effectiveness; men who have sex with men; preexposure prophylaxis