Dulaglutide (Trulicity) and Liraglutide (Victoza): Supply issue resolved
From 1 July 2025, both Liraglutide (Victoza) and dulaglutide (Trulicity) were funded again for new patients.
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Dulaglutide: New patients from 1 July 2025
From 1 July 2025, we lifted the “no new patient” restriction from dulaglutide (branded as Trulicity). This follows our earlier decision to re-open access to liraglutide from 1 March 2025.
Eligible people with type 2 diabetes will be able to start taking funded dulaglutide or liraglutide.
Decision to enable new people to start treatment with dulaglutide for type 2 diabetes
The suppliers advise that they now have 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” restrictions.
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.
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. By mid-2025, the supply of both medicines was reliable enough that we could return the access criteria to the original criteria.
Decision to enable new people to start treatment with dulaglutide for type 2 diabetes
Decision to enable new people to start treatment with liraglutide for type 2 diabetes
Information for prescribers
From 1 July 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 dulaglutide (Trulicity) or 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.