Nestlé Health Science has informed ASCIA that only the updated recipe of Alfamino® amino acid formula for infants will be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 August 2024. Since 1 September 2023, both the newer and older recipe Alfamino® products have been available on the PBS. 

The new recipe Alfamino® will also be listed on Pharmac as of 1 August 2024. Both formulations will be listed on Pharmac for a few months to assist with availability while supply changes from Alfamino® to Alfamino® with the inclusion of HMOs. This will also allow time for infants to transition to the new formulation.

The recipe of Alfamino® was updated in 2023 with the addition of two Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) 2’-FL and LNnT, which are structurally identical to those HMOs found in breastmilk.  From 1 August 2024, the older formulation of Alfamino® infant formula will be deleted, which means that prescribers should only use the item codes (listed below) for the updated Alfamino® product.

PBS item codes for Alfamino®400g with HMOs

The updated Alfamino® recipe (with HMOs) introduced in 2023 will continue to be available on the PBS, using the item codes below:

• 13615N - Amino acid synthetic formula supplemented with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium chain triglycerides with 2-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose powder for oral liquid, Alfamino 400 g
• 13627F - Amino acid synthetic formula supplemented with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and medium chain triglycerides with 2-fucosyllactose and lacto-N-neotetraose powder for oral liquid, Alfamino 400 g

The older formulation of Alfamino® infant formula will be deleted from the PBS on 1 August 2024. There will be a supply only period, which will enable dispensing the product for existing prescriptions but no new prescriptions can be written for the below item numbers as of 1 August 2024.

Further information is available here: 

ASCIA Notification Alfamino and PBS update254.23 KB

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