Pegylated interferon alfa-2a Home Delivery Program

How to access Pegylated interferon alfa-2a

July 22th 2025, 2:30pm

We are currently out of stock of all strengths of Pegasys.
You’re welcome to place your order HERE, and it will be added to the queue to be processed as soon as stock becomes available.

Please see current update from ECHO July 22th 2025:

Current Situation

  • Despite our best efforts, unfortunately, there is now an unavoidable SHORT-TERM shortage of both strengths of Pegasys®, 135 microgram and 180 microgram, until approximately early August 2025. Please contact your treating doctor to discuss your medication options.

  • Echo Therapeutics will begin supply of Pegasys® in packaging made for Irish patients. The labelling, although similar, is not identical. The Echo Therapeutics’ company logo is replaced with another logo, Pharma&, the European manufacturing company. Please be assured that the Irish and Australian products are identical in active ingredient, strength, syringe markings and formulation and are produced to the same high pharmaceutical standards and certifications in Europe, which are recognised in Australia.

  • The majority of this Irish labelled Pegasys® will be the 180 mcg presentation. Should your usual prescription be the 135 mcg strength, please contact your treating doctor to discuss your medication options.

  • The Irish 135 microgram strength Pegasys will be supplied as a single pre-filled syringe pack with one injection needle rather than a four pack. This single Irish Pegasys® will be grouped into a pack of four prior to supply. As there is limited supply of this strength, we will only make this available via JustMeds for home delivery until the stock is exhausted 

  • As for the Irish 180 microgram strength Pegasys packs, there will be no changes as they will still be supplied as a pack of 4 pre-filled syringes and 4 injection needles.

  • Supply will continue via JustMeds (Pegasys® home delivery program) and hospitals where needed, that is, there will be no change to how you receive your Pegasys® medication.

 PBS REIMBURSEMENT

  • Despite our early engagement with the PBS beginning early this year, the Department of Health has not yet informed Echo Therapeutics of their final decision and advised that PBS reimbursement of the Irish Pegasys® may commence from September 1st, 2025.

This may leave you with two options:

  • Pay the non-PBS price, which is unfunded by the PBS and is a price yet to be determined for the 135 mcg and 180 mcg, plus dispensing fees

  • Or, wait to be dispensed the  Irish labelled Pegasys® (potentially from September 1st, 2025) at the usual PBS co-payment price

Ongoing Australian supply

  • Echo Therapeutics has negotiated ongoing supply of Australian labelled stock with the manufacturer to ensure stock allocated for Australian patients remains a priority and any risks of unauthorised exports of Pegasys® to countries outside Australia are minimised. We expect supply to begin in late 2025

  • When Australian labelled Pegasys® is available, it will continue via JustMeds (Pegasys® home delivery program) until consistent and regular supply is established, which will then enable the option of supply via a Pharmacy of your choice.

To stay updated, please follow the links below:
https://apps.tga.gov.au/Prod/msi/Search/Details/peginterferon-alfa2a
https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-major-medicine-shortages/about-shortage-pegasys-peginterferon-alfa-2a-injection
https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/11037X-6449K-9516W
https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/11037X-11416W-6439X-6449K-9515T-9516W
https://www.echotherapeutics.com.au/general-5
https://www.justmeds.com.au/pegasys

Other helpful resources:

https://www.hsanz.org.au/news/13478053

https://www.mpnallianceaustralia.org.au/pegasys-shortage-update-where-to-from-here/

JustMeds has partnered with Echo Therapeutics to offer a free home delivery service, for Australians living with MPNs to access Pegylated interferon alfa-2a

From 1 September 2024, Australian patients prescribed Pegylated interferon alfa-2a will be able to access this treatment through the new dedicated Pegylated interferon alfa-2a, Home Delivery Program. This program is delivered by Echo Therapeutics (the sponsor of Pegylated interferon alfa-2a in Australia) through its EchoCare™ service, in partnership with JustMeds – a local specialist medicines delivery provider. This is initially a short- to medium-term solution to make sure Australian patients prescribed Pegylated interferon alfa-2a can continue to access treatment when needed.

To order your Pegasys Medication click here:

How to administer a self injection for Peginterferon Alfa-2A

More Information

  • JustMeds is a digital platform that simplifies and streamlines the dispensing of medicines for patients through a national delivery service, helping to improve treatment access.

    JustMeds is not an online retailer. Through its network of pharmacies, JustMeds processes all medicine deliveries to patients Australia-wide through its two locations in Sydney (Mosman, NSW) and Perth (Nedlands, WA). It also specialises in the secure pick-up, transport and delivery of cold-chain (must be kept in a refrigerator) medicines.

  • Echo Therapeutics has recently been made aware of some local pharmacies and healthcare companies that may be purchasing Pegylated interferon alfa-2a the intent of diverting treatment meant for Australian patients to other countries. This unauthorised export of Pegylated interferon alfa-2ais impacting the available supply of treatment for local patients.

    Meeting the needs of Australian patients is the top priority for Echo Therapeutics. To ensure patients prescribed Pegylated interferon alfa-2acan continue to receive their treatment when they need it, all prescriptions (both eScripts and hard copy/paper scripts) will be processed by the pharmacists at JustMeds.

  • To ensure the transition to the new Home Delivery Program is as smooth as possible for you, we have developed some step-by-step guides for patients, which are available for you to view or download at: www.justmeds.com.au/pegasys

    You will need to provide consent for your doctor to share your contact details (full name, phone number and email address only) and your script with JustMeds.

    JustMeds takes the privacy and security of patients’ personal information very seriously, and will only hold your personal information if you continue to be prescribed Pegylated interferon alfa-2a further details about how JustMeds uses and stores personal information, or for a copy of their Privacy Policy, please visit: www.justmeds.com.au/privacy-policy

  • Please contact JustMeds directly via phone 07 2000 4124 or email rx@justmeds.com.au

    If you have any questions or concerns about Pegylated interferon alfa-2a please contact the Echo Therapeutics Medical Information team on 1300 84 83 28, or via medinfo@echotherapeutics.net.

  • We process and ship orders Monday through Thursday, excluding public holidays and any weekend business closures by our shipping partners. Orders are shipped in the order they are received to ensure fairness and efficiency.

    While we aim to dispatch most orders within 24 hours of fulfillment, some orders may require additional processing time due to factors such as inventory availability or order volume. In such cases, we will keep you updated with any potential delays.

    We strive to deliver your orders as promptly as possible and appreciate your patience during peak times. If you have any questions regarding your shipment or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team.