Thirty thousand New Zealanders now have access to a wider range of treatments as Pharmac continues to fund more medicines, the medicines purchasing agency announced today.
This will follow a public consultation, said Dr David Hughes, Director Advice and Assessment and Chief Medical Officer, and will help patients with ovarian cancer, lung disease, HIV and rare diseases that affect blood vessels. , and the treatment of patients at high risk of infection. You get shingles.
This comes after a “bundle deal” with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is completed.
“Finding savings on some medicines can help fund other medicines and make funded treatment options available to more people,” Hughes said. .
“These drugs will make a huge difference in people’s lives.”
Most of these drugs will be available from May 1st.
Jane Ludemann, founder of the Ovarian Cancer Foundation, said the changes would be “life-changing” for ovarian cancer patients who would have “access to modern medicine”.
“Our communities say that when this treatment becomes available, it will help them spend more time with their whānau and let them know they have done everything they can to create more memories. “Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancers in women, so this is an important step forward.”
Dr. James Fingleton, medical director of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation, said the accessibility of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drugs “positively impacts equitable outcomes in our communities.”
“We want people with severe COPD to have treatment options that provide maximum benefit. If this triple combination therapy is available, it could help people manage their symptoms. We are really happy that Pharmac listened to our feedback and put in place the appropriate treatment.” Changes to allow our prescribers to provide this treatment if needed is. ”
What medicines are currently being funded and who will they help?
The maintenance therapy niraparib (brand name Zejula) will be offered to 110 ovarian cancer patients in the first year of funding. This he will be funded from May 1, 2024.
For COPD patients, the first triple-drug therapy in a single inhaler will be delivered to around 15,000 people in the first year of funding. Pharmac says that for most people, “this means switching from using two or three separate inhalers to using just one inhaler.” This he will be funded from May 1, 2024.
Dolutegravir (brand name Dovato), an antiviral drug with lamivudine, will be available from May 1, 2024 for people living with HIV. Pharmac believes about 900 people will switch to the drug in its first year of funding.
More people with a rare vascular disease called eosinophilic granulomatosis with relapsed or refractory polyangiitis (EGPA) will have access to mepolizumab (brand name Nucala) starting May 1, 2024. ) will be available.
The shingles vaccine will also be more accessible to some people who are immunocompromised or who are at high risk of contracting the virus. Pharmac believes 15,000 people will be affected in the first two years of funding, in addition to those 65 and older who are eligible for the vaccine. This will be available to him from July 1, 2024.
