Abacavir-based regimens are slightly more cost-effective than tenofovir-based ones, a US mathematical modelling study published in AIDS has concluded. But this is only the case if patients are tested at the outset for the abacavir hypersensitivity reaction, a potentially fatal allergy to the drug.
The study found that testing for the HLA-B*5701 genetic mutation, which confers hypersensitivity to abacavir, and using tenofovir-based regimens only with those who have it, was the most cost-effective option when compared with using tenofovir from the start with all patients, or not testing for B*5701 and clinically managing the hypersensitivity reactions that arose. The strategy would also produce a small increase in patient life expectancy.
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/EDE2BB5D-B7BA-4DB7-9B11-460D7374CDC8.asp