Nestlé Health Science has informed ASCIA that supply of Alfaré^® extensively hydrolysed infant formula (400g) is being discontinued in Australia and will be deleted from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 August 2024. 

There will be a supply only period, which will enable health professionals to dispense the product for existing prescriptions, but no new prescriptions can be written for Alfaré® as of 1 August 2024. 

Nestlé Health Science amino acid formula products for infants (Alfamino^® and Alfamino^® Junior) continue to be available in Australia. For the latest details go to https://www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/update-on-alfamino-r-infant-formula-pbs-listings-1-august-2024 

There is an alternative extensively hydrolysed infant formula product available on the PBS to which parents can transition their infants, and this is included in the ASCIA Guide for Milk Substitutes in Cow’s Milk Allergy, which is on the ASCIA website https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/guide-for-milk-substitutes-cows-milk-allergy

Further information is available here: 

ASCIA Notification Alfare Discontinuation159.48 KB

Health professionals can also contact Nestlé Health Science for further information.

Alfaré^® is not sold in New Zealand, so this update is not applicable to New Zealand.

This news item was issued on 15 July 2024 by Jill Smith, CEO of ASCIA, the peak professional body for clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.