Dulaglutide (Trulicity) and Liraglutide (Victoza): Supply issue
There is a global supply issue affecting GLP-1 agonists, this is affecting supply of liraglutide (Victoza) and dulaglutide (Trulicity).
On this page
Liraglutide: New patients from 1 March 2025
From 1 March 2025, we are lifting the “no new patient” restriction from liraglutide (branded as Victoza). Eligible people with type 2 diabetes will be able to start taking funded liraglutide.
Decision to enable new people to start treatment with liraglutide for type 2 diabetes
Dulaglutide (branded as Trulicity) remains restricted to existing patients only.
Why now?
The supplier of liraglutide has advised that it now has enough stock to meet demand, under the current eligibility criteria, for the foreseeable future.
As such, we’re returning the access criteria to the same criteria that were available we applied the “no new patients” restriction.
Future review of access criteria
Pharmac plans to seek advice from its Diabetes Advisory Committee, within the next six months, about the criteria for access to GLP-1 agonists.
We continue to monitor dulaglutide
We are continuing to monitor the stock situation for dulaglutide. Once we have confirmation that people can access a regular supply of dulaglutide, we will change the access criteria to allow people to start taking funded dulaglutide.
Affected products
- Chemical: dulaglutide
- Brand: Trulicity
- Supplier: Eli Lilly
- Measure: Inj 1.5mg per 0.5 ml, prefilled pen
- Pharmacode: 2617722
Pharmaceutical Schedule listing for dulaglutide(external link)
- Chemical: liraglutide
- Brand: Victoza
- Supplier: Novo Nordisk
- Measure: Inj 6 mg per ml, 3 ml prefilled pen
- Pharmacode: 2653990
Pharmaceutical Schedule listing for liraglutide(external link)
Background
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) and liraglutide (Victoza) are medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes. They belong to a class of medicines called GLP-1 agonists.
In September 2022, the supplier of dulaglutide (Eli Lilly) advised Pharmac of a supply issue affecting dulaglutide (Trulicity). This was due to unanticipated increases in global demand for dulaglutide and other GLP-1 agonists.
Pharmac listed liraglutide (Victoza) as an alternative GLP-1 agonist to support the supply issue.
The demand for these medicines continued to grow rapidly, creating more shortages. Clinical advice highlighted the importance of prioritising available stock for those already taking these medicines.
From 1 May 2024, we limited funded access to dulaglutide (Trulicity) and liraglutide (Victoza) to people already taking them.
People who take dulaglutide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) remains restricted to existing patients only.
Our Diabetes Advisory Committee and key partners, including the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes and Diabetes New Zealand, have highlighted the importance of maintaining the supply of dulaglutide for people already taking it. As such, we have been cautious about re-opening access for people.
We continue to monitor the supply situation. We will re-open funded access to dulaglutide for new patients when we are confident that everyone will be able to get it regularly.
We understand that supply issues with medicines can be frustrating. Making sure people with type 2 diabetes have the medicine they need to effectively manage their health care is a priority for Pharmac.
Talk to a health care professional you trust about your best treatment options.
Information for prescribers
From 1 March 2025, people with type 2 diabetes who have tried other appropriate treatment options and are at high-risk of experiencing diabetes related complications, will be eligible to access funded liraglutide (Victoza).
Resources to support prescribing liraglutide can be found below:
Diabetes Hub | bpac NZ(external link)
Who to contact
If you have questions about funding, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz
If you have questions about dulaglutide stock, contact Eli Lilly(external link).
If you have questions about liraglutide stock, contact Novo Nordisk.(external link)
If you have questions about how to treat type 2 diabetes, please talk to your health professional.