Bevacizumab (Vegzelma): Health care professional information
Vegzelma funded for certain conditions from 1 March 2025.
On this page
We will keep this page up to date as more resources become available.
What is Vegzelma funded for?
From 1 March 2025, Vegzelma will be funded by Special Authority for:
- recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
- ocular conditions
- unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
- advanced ovarian cancer.
Bevacizumab is currently funded for people with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and certain ocular conditions.
- By 1 August 2025, all people with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis will need to have transitioned to the Vegzelma brand of bevacizumab.
- "Any brand’ of bevacizumab will continue to be funded in Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora hospitals for people with ocular conditions.
Full decision to fund bevacizumab (Vegzelma)
Medsafe datasheet for Vegzelma [PDF](external link)
Medsafe datasheet for Avastin [PDF](external link)
Key dates
1 March 2025: Vegzelma listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule
1 August 2025: Vegzelma will have Principal Supply Status (PSS) in Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora hospitals
Biologics and biosimilars
Bevacizumab is a type of medicine called a biologic. Vegzelma is a ‘biosimilar medicine’. This means it is a very similar version of a biologic medicine. Avastin is the reference biologic medicine, meaning that it was the first brand of bevacizumab to be made available for use. Avastin is likely the brand of bevacizumab that people are most familiar with.
More information about biologic and biosimilar medicines:
Biological and biosimilar medicines
Biosimilars | BPAC(external link)
Introduction to biological medicines | He Ako Hiringa(external link)
Biosimilars promising a new era | He Ako Hiringa(external link)
A resource explaining biosimilar medicines for people currently receiving a different brand of bevacizumab who move onto the funded Vegzelma biosimilar is in development and will be available here soon.
Equivalence studies
Below are two clinical studies of CT-P16 (Vegzelma) and their status, as well as any related publications published thus far:
|
Study |
Status |
Publication |
Link |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1.1 Study |
Completed |
Manuscript published on BioDrugs |
Cho SH et al., BioDrugs. 2019;33(2):173-181(external link). (Limited access) |
|
3.1 Study |
Completed |
1Y follow up data: Manuscript published on BioDrugs |
Verschraegen C et al., BioDrugs. 2022;36(6):749-760.(external link)(Open access) |
|
3Y follow-up data: Manuscript in preparation |
N/A |
Medsafe assessment of biosimilars
When biosimilars are assessed by Medsafe, they must show clinical efficacy and safety equivalence with the reference medicine. As a result, there may not always be published evidence of biosimilar efficacy for every indication that has been approved.
Extrapolation of efficacy and safety from one therapeutic indication to another can be considered acceptable if it has been scientifically justified. Consequently, there is often no published evidence of biosimilar efficacy for all specific indications that are approved for the biosimilar.
Biosimilars | Medsafe website(external link)
Vegzelma for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
From 1 March 2025, Vegzelma will be funded for people with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
Prescribers will need to apply for a Special Authority for funding of Vegzelma.
By 1 August 2025, those who are currently receiving a different brand of bevacizumab will need to change to the Vegzelma biosimilar to continue receiving funded treatment.
If someone is unable to transition to the Vegzelma brand of bevacizumab or if there are difficulties with the transition, Pharmac will consider an application to remain on a certain brand:
You will need to apply for a Special Authority for funding of Vegzelma.
Bevacizumab for ocular conditions
‘Any Brand’ of bevacizumab will continue to be funded through Health NZ hospitals, allowing clinicians the choice between brands. This means there is no requirement for people who are receiving bevacizumab for ocular conditions to change to the Vegzelma biosimilar.
Please prescribe bevacizumab by brand if there is a specific brand you want for your patient.
Vegzelma for liver and ovarian cancers
From 1 March 2025, Vegzelma will be funded for people with liver and ovarian cancers, subject to eligibility criteria.
Prescribers will need to apply for a Special Authority for funding of Vegzelma.
We understand some people are currently receiving bevacizumab for liver cancer through compassionate access programmes or are self-funding their treatment for liver or ovarian cancer.
From 1 March 2025: those who are using a different brand of bevacizumab will need to switch to the Vegzelma biosimilar to receive funded treatment.
People currently receiving bevacizumab for liver cancer: We have added a criterion to the Special Authority form to enable prescribers to easily apply for funding for people who are currently receiving bevacizumab for liver cancer, provided they met the proposed criteria before starting their treatment.
People currently receiving bevacizumab for ovarian cancer: As there is currently no compassionate access pathway in place for bevacizumab for ovarian cancer, we expect this to be a small group of people. Funding for Vegzelma for this group of people can be applied for using a waiver application.
Request a Special Authority Waiver
Vegzelma information for health care professionals
The supplier, Celltrion, is in the process of creating a product brochure and in-use stability data brochure. We will include a link to these resources when available.
Vegzelma information for patients
The supplier, Celltrion, is in the process of creating a website hosting information to support people receiving Vegzelma, including product brochures, and factsheets for people receiving Vegzelma for approved indications. We will include a link to the website here when it is available.
Vegzelma Medinfo
Celltrion has a medinfo hotline and email for health care professionals and people receiving Vegzelma if they have any want more information about Vegzelma.
Hotline: 0800 838 899
Email: medinfo-nz@celltrionhc.com