Proposal to decline inactive funding applications

1 October 2020

Medicines Consultation Closed

To help make our decision-making process clearer, we are seeking feedback on a proposal for PHARMAC to make decisions to decline the funding applications listed below.

On this page

These applications are inactive, meaning that PHARMAC is not currently actively undertaking any work to progress these applications for funding.

Further information about this proposal, including details of each application and how to provide feedback follows below.

Consultation closes 5pm Friday 30 October 2020 and feedback can be emailed to applicationfeedback@pharmac.govt.nz.

Alimentary tract and metabolism

Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D) 1000 IU tablets for vitamin D deficiency
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D) and calcium for vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis
Macrogol with electrolytes, half strength for paediatric constipation
Velaglucerase alfa for Gaucher disease
Zinc suppositories for haemorrhoids

Blood and blood forming organs

Apixaban for prevention of venous thromboembolic events following major orthopaedic surgery
Apixaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Sodium chloride prefilled syringes sterile pack for flushing in-situ vascular access devices

Cardiovascular system

Candesartan with hydrochlorothiazide for high blood pressure
Ranolazine for first-line treatment of angina
Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension – dual therapy
Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension - monotherapy
Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension – triple therapy
Telmisartan for hypertension

Dermatologicals

Bepanthen cream for excoriated buttocks
Ingenol mebutate for solar (actinic) keratosis lesions
Peppermint lip treatment for dry lips and dryness of the mouth
Witch hazel, distilled liquid for topical use

Genito-urinary system

Carbetocin for uterine atony and excessive bleeding following caesarean
Dutasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia
Oxybutynin patches for urinary incontinence

Infections – agents for systemic use

Cefuroxime axetil open listing for bacterial infections
Micafungin for invasive candidiasis and other indications
Rilpivirine for HIV/AIDS
Sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C, lower-risk groups, genotype 1
Sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C with decompensated cirrhosis and a MELD score <15
Sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C, advanced disease
Sofosbuvir with velpatasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Tenofovir alafenamide for chronic hepatitis B in adults
Tenofovir, emtricitabine, elvitegravir and cobicistat combination for HIV

Musculoskeletal system

Abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis
Golimumab for rheumatoid arthritis as a second line tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor
Ibandronate for osteoporosis

Nervous system

Aripiprazole depot injection for schizophrenia
Asenapine for bipolar 1 disorder or schizophrenia
Duloxetine hydrochloride for treatment-resistant depression
Galantamine for Alzheimer’s disease
Lidocaine [lignocaine] gel 2% open listing in the community for pain
Naratriptan for migraine
Nicotine inhaler for smoking cessation
Paliperidone tablets for schizophrenia second-line to risperidone or quetiapine
Peginterferon beta-1a for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis
Quetiapine extended-release tablet for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Reboxetine for depression
Rivastigmine capsules for Alzheimer’s disease

Oncology agents and immunosuppressants

Enzalutamide for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer
Nab-paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer
Vinorelbine for non-small cell lung cancer

Respiratory system and allergies

Aclidinium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Sensory organs

Bimatoprost 0.03% and timolol maleate 0.5% for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension
Brimonidine tartrate 0.15% for glaucoma
Ketotifen fumarate for ocular allergy
Travoprost and timolol for glaucoma

Special Foods

Pepticate extensively hydrolysed infant formula for protein allergy
Lorenzo’s oil for adrenoleukodystrophy
Modulen IBD for Crohn’s disease
NutriniDrink paediatric oral feed powder
Fortijuice oral feed for malnutrition
Fortisip Compact 2.4Kcal/ml oral feed for oral nutrition support

Why we’re proposing this

PHARMAC’s role is to decide which medicines are funded to get the best health outcomes from within a fixed budget, and we know that the decisions we make impact nearly every New Zealander.

All funded medicines are listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule(external link).

We are committed to making our decision-making process faster, and clearer and simpler for people to understand. We want to ensure that people can easily see what is happening with funding applications. This includes making it clearer what stage applications are at in our processes, and why we make our decisions.

We’ve heard from New Zealanders that they want PHARMAC to reach decisions on funding applications so they can have some certainty, even if our decision is to decline funding.

To give people more clarity about what we may – and may not – fund, we’re looking to make decisions to decline funding for a number of inactive applications. This will make it clearer to everyone whether a medicine is, or is not, being actively considered for funding.

There are a range of reasons a funding application may be inactive, including:

our expert clinical advisors recommended that the funding application be declined
other more clinically preferred medicines for the same condition are now funded, making the funding application no longer relevant
the medicine would provide no additional benefits over other treatments we already fund, or may be harmful. Therefore, we consider that, in order to be funded, the price of the medicine should be the same, or less expensive than, the funded alternative treatment. This is known as a ‘cost neutral’ recommendation
no company is willing to supply the medicine in New Zealand.

Feedback from this consultation will help us make decisions on the funding applications for the medicines detailed in this consultation.

Details about our proposal

We have identified 59 inactive funding applications for 53 different medicines that we are proposing to decline. For each of these funding applications, from the information we have, we consider that the medicine would provide no additional benefits over other treatments we already fund. Therefore, we consider that, in order to be funded, the price of the medicine should be the same, or less expensive than, the funded alternative treatment.

In each case, clinical advice on the application was received at least 12 months ago and, based on our subsequent assessment including communications with applicants and suppliers, we consider it unlikely that the required pricing can be achieved to enable these applications to be progressed for funding.

PHARMAC has not made a decision about these funding applications.

Before we do, we want to hear from people and communities about whether it would be appropriate to decline funding for these medicines for the use requested. We want to ensure any final decisions are made having considered all relevant information, so we are also interested in receiving any information about the medicines and indications we’re consulting on that would lead us to reconsider our proposal to decline funding for them.

A decline decision would mean the medicine would not be funded for the use requested. However, it would not prevent PHARMAC from reconsidering funding for these medicines for these uses in the future if, for instance, new evidence or other relevant information that addresses the reasons for the decline decision became available.

All consultation responses will be considered before making a final decision on each of these funding applications. These decisions would be made by the PHARMAC Board or its delegate using PHARMAC’s Factors for Consideration. We expect to make these decisions over the next few months, depending on the feedback we receive.

Information about how PHARMAC decides which medicines to fund is explained on our website. See the following links:

Common terms used when describing our funding application assessment and decision-making process are explained in the following table.

Term	What does it mean?
Application	A funding application received from a supplier, clinician, consumer or generated by PHARMAC staff.
Inactive application	Following consideration of expert clinical advice, PHARMAC is not currently actively undertaking any work to progress the medicine for funding for the use requested.
Factors for Consideration	The Factors for Consideration are the framework PHARMAC uses when making funding decisions. The Factors are not weighted or applied rigidly, and not every factor is relevant for every funding decision PHARMAC makes. This is because the situation for one assessment may require quite different considerations compared with another. Funding decisions are made relative to other options, and the context within which decisions are made is constantly changing.
Medsafe-approved	Medsafe is responsible for the regulation of medicines and medical devices in New Zealand, ensuring they are acceptably safe(external link)(external link).
PTAC	PHARMAC’s primary clinical advisory committee, the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee, is made up of senior health practitioners from a range of specialities. PTAC considers clinical evidence for funding applications and takes into account all of PHARMAC's Factors for Consideration before making recommendations to PHARMAC. PTAC’s role is to provide objective clinical advice to PHARMAC.
Subcommittee	PTAC has over 20 expert Subcommittees which provide clinical evaluations in specialist areas. PTAC subcommittees meet as required to discuss issues referred to them by PTAC or PHARMAC.
CaTSoP	Cancer Treatments Subcommittee of PTAC – the expert Subcommittee relating to cancer treatments.
Recommended for decline	A recommendation to PHARMAC from PTAC or a Subcommittee to decline the funding application. A recommendation is not a decision by PHARMAC.
Cost neutral recommendation	A recommendation to PHARMAC from a clinical advisory committee (PTAC or a Subcommittee) to only fund a medicine if it costs the same or less than another comparable medicine (i.e. one that is already funded which provides the same or similar health benefits).
Proposing to decline	A proposal from PHARMAC to make a decision to decline funding for a medicine. This is issued before a final decision is made.
Decline decision	A decision by PHARMAC (the Board or its delegate), using the Factors for Consideration, to decline funding for a medicine. PHARMAC decides which medicines will be funded, comparing all the options, to ensure we are getting the best possible health outcomes for New Zealander from a fixed budget set by the Minister of Health.

Applications that we are proposing to decline

In the table below you can find information on each of the applications that we are proposing to decline. We are proposing to decline these applications as our assessment is that the medicine provides the same or similar health benefits to one that is already funded and it should only be funded if it costs the same, or less than, that comparable medicine.

In the majority of cases our clinical advisors indicated that the medicines should only be funded if they were cost neutral i.e cost the same, or less, than the funded comparable medicine. These alternative medicines have been listed in the ‘Potential funded alternatives’ column in the table. In some cases our advisors gave a positive funding recommendation, but we have subsequently funded an alternative medicine that provides the same clinical benefit. These alternative medicines have been listed in the ‘Additional information’ column on the table.

Further information on these applications can be found by:

Click on the hyperlink within the relevant Additional information column OR click on the hyperlink in the Applicant and brand name column. This will take you to the appropriate page on PHARMAC’s Application Tracker.
Click on the words ‘Seeking Clinical Advice’. This will open a list of the meetings in date sequence at which the application was considered by our clinical advisors.
Meeting records (minutes) from each of the meetings can be accessed by clicking on the text next to the word ‘Links’.
To find the relevant section within the minutes either scroll through the record or use ‘ctrl and F’ to open the search function and search using the medicine name or the indication.

Please note that if you don’t want to click on the hyperlinks in the table below that you can search for the pharmaceutical directly from the main Application Tracker(external link)(external link) on the PHARMAC website and then select the correct indication.

Pharmaceutical and indication	Applicant and brand name (if relevant/ specified)	Most recent clinical discussion and recommendation	Potential funded alternatives (if applicable)	Additional information
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D) 1000 IU tablets for vitamin D deficiency	Wilson Consumer Products – OsteoVit-D(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '10)	Alfacalcidol Cap 0.25 mcg; Cap 1 mcg; Oral drops 2 mcg per ml(external link) Colecalciferol Cap 1.25 mg (50,000 iu); Oral liq 188 mcg per ml (7,500 iu per ml)(external link) Calcitriol Cap 0.25 mcg; Cap 0.5 mcg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Cholecalciferol (vitamin D) and calcium for vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis	Wilson Consumer Products – OsteoVit-D and Calcium(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '10)	Alfacalcidol Cap 0.25 mcg; Cap 1 mcg; Oral drops 2 mcg per ml(external link) Colecalciferol Cap 1.25 mg (50,000 iu); Oral liq 188 mcg per ml (7,500 iu per ml)(external link) Calcitriol Cap 0.25 mcg; Cap 0.5 mcg(external link) Calcium carbonate Tab eff 1.75 g (1 g elemental); Tab 1.25 g (500 mg elemental)(external link) Calcium gluconate Inj 10%, 10 ml ampoule(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Macrogol with electrolytes, half strength for paediatric constipation	Subcommittee recommendation - Movicol(external link)(external link)	PTAC: No formal recommendation (Nov ’17)	Macrogol 3350 (13.125 g )with potassium chloride (46.6 mg), sodium bicarbonate (178.5 mg ) and sodium chloride (350.7 mg ) Powder for oral soln (Molaxole)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). PTAC advised that a half-dose can be managed without the listing of a new formulation.
Velaglucerase alfa for Gaucher disease	Shire(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '16)	Taliglucerase alfa Inj 200 unit via(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). We have listed taliglucerase, an alternative treatment for Gaucher disease, as a result of an RFP August 2017.
Zinc Suppositories for haemorrhoids	PHARMAC initiated(external link)(external link)	2/08/2011 - Hosp Pharm Subcom - Decline	Fluocortolone caproate with fluocortolone pivalate and cinchocaine Oint 950 mcg with fluocortolone pivalate 920 mcg and cinchocaine hydrochloride 5 mg per g; Suppos 630 mcg with fluocortolone pivalate 610 mcg and cinchocaine hydrochloride 1 mg(external link) Cinchocaine hydrochloride with hydrocortisone Oint 5 mg with hydrocortisone 5 mg per g; Suppos 5 mg with hydrocortisone 5 mg per g(external link) Zinc oint(external link) Zinc oxide powder(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Apixaban for prevention of venous thromboembolic events following major orthopaedic surgery	Pfizer - Eliquis(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '14)	Rivaroxaban Tab 10 mg; Tab 15 mg; Tab 20 mg(external link) Dabigatran Cap 75 mg; Cap 110 mg; Cap 150 mg(external link) Low(external link) molecular weight heparin (LMWH)(external link) bridging therapy and warfarin(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (rivaroxaban).
Apixaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation	Pfizer - Eliquis(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Medium (May '18)	Warfarin sodium Tab 1 mg; Tab 2 mg; Tab 3 mg; Tab 5 mg(external link) Rivaroxaban Tab 10 mg; Tab 15 mg; Tab 20 mg(external link) Dabigatran Cap 75 mg; Cap 110 mg; Cap 150 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (rivaroxaban).
Sodium chloride prefilled syringes sterile pack for flushing in-situ vascular access devices	Clinician application – PosiFlush and PosiFlushXS(external link)(external link)	PTAC: High (Aug '15)	Drawing up the required quantity of normal saline from ampoules using a syringe and needle, whilst maintaining aseptic technique. This activity requires two nurses, one inside the sterile field with a sterile syringe and needle drawing up saline from an ampoule being held by the other person outside the sterile field.	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). When making this recommendation PTAC noted feedback from NZ clinicians with recurring themes such as time-savings, reduced risks of contamination, good labelling and the reinforcement of best practice. PTAC recommended PHARMAC seek further specialist advice from the Infection Prevention & Control Nurses College (IPCNC) regarding the clinical significance of externally sterile prefilled saline syringes. The IPCNC responded that, although it wasn’t opposed to the use of such a product, the basis of most infection prevention and control is strict adherence to protocols and techniques, rather than the use of specific products. A request for information issued to DHBs indicated there are limited nationally consistent mechanisms to control the usage of such a product over the current alternative which is considered to deliver similar health outcomes, albeit with a slightly higher level of procedural time requirement. Based on the DHB feedback it also appears to that there is not an unmet clinical need to justify the price of this product.
Candesartan with hydrochlorothiazide for high blood pressure	Clinician application(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '14)	Candesartan cilexetil Tab 4 mg; Tab 8 mg; Tab 16 mg; Tab 32 mg (external link) Losartan potassium Tab 12.5 mg; Tab 25 mg; Tab 50 mg; Tab 100 mg(external link) Bendroflumethiazide [Bendrofluazide] Tab 2.5 mg; Tab 5 mg(external link) Chlorothiazide Oral liq 50 mg per ml(external link) Chlortalidone [Chlorthalidone] Tab 25 mg(external link) Indapamide Tab 2.5 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Ranolazine for first-line treatment of angina	Clinician application(external link)(external link)	PTAC: High (Aug '12)	Nicorandil Tab 10 mg; Tab 20 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (nicorandil).
Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension - dual therapy	Actelion(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (May '16)	Endothelin Receptor Antagonists Ambrisentan; Bosentan(external link) Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors Sildenafil(external link) Prostacyclin Analogues Epoprostenol; Iloprost(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Our assessment is that selexipag has a similar efficacy to currently funded pharmaceuticals for pulmonary arterial hypertension, but is a higher cost.
Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension - monotherapy	Actelion(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (May '16)	Endothelin Receptor Antagonists Ambrisentan; Bosentan(external link) Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors Sildenafil(external link) Prostacyclin Analogues Epoprostenol; Iloprost(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Our assessment is that selexipag has a similar efficacy to currently funded pharmaceuticals for pulmonary arterial hypertension, but is a higher cost.
Selexipag for pulmonary arterial hypertension - triple therapy	Actelion(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (May '16)	Endothelin Receptor Antagonists Ambrisentan; Bosentan(external link) Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors Sildenafil(external link) Prostacyclin Analogues Epoprostenol; Iloprost(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Our assessment is that selexipag has a similar efficacy to currently funded pharmaceuticals for pulmonary arterial hypertension, but is a higher cost.
Telmisartan for hypertension	Boehringer Ingelheim - Micardis(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '06)	Losartan potassium Tab 12.5 mg; Tab 25 mg; Tab 50 mg; Tab 100 mg(external link) Candesartan cilexetil Tab 4 mg; Tab 8 mg; Tab 16 mg; Tab 32 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Bepanthen cream for excoriated buttocks	Clinician application – Bepanthen(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '14)	Zinc and castor oil Crm; Oint; Oint, BP(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). The Subcommittee considered there was a lack of strong evidence and recommended listing Bepanthen Cream only if cost neutral to zinc and castor oil.
Ingenol mebutate for solar (actinic) keratosis lesions	Seqirus - Picato(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '14)	Imiquimod Crm 5%, 250 mg sachet(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Peppermint lip treatment for dry lips and dryness of the mouth	Clinician application(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '14)	Paraffin White soft;(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). The Subcommittee recommended listing peppermint lip treatment Oralife Peppermint Lip Treatment in the HML only if cost neutral to White Soft Paraffin
Witch Hazel, distilled liquid for topical application (Hamamelis extract)	PHARMAC initiated(external link)(external link)	Hosp Pharms Sub com: Decline (Aug ‘11)	Fluocortolone caproate with fluocortolone pivalate and cinchocaine Oint 950 mcg with fluocortolone pivalate 920 mcg and cinchocaine hydrochloride 5 mg per g; Suppos 630 mcg with fluocortolone pivalate 610 mcg and cinchocaine hydrochloride 1 mg(external link) Cinchocaine hydrochloride with hydrocortisone Oint 5 mg with hydrocortisone 5 mg per g; Suppos 5 mg with hydrocortisone 5 mg per g(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Carbetocin for uterine atony and excessive bleeding following caesarean	Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd - Duratocin(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '13)	Oxytocin Inj 5 iu per ml, 1 ml ampoule; Inj 10 iu per ml, 1 ml ampoule(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Dutasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia	GlaxoSmithKline - Avodart(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '12)	Finasteride Tab 5 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Oxybutynin patches for urinary incontinence	Hospira - Oxytrol(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (Jul '08)	Solifenacin succinate Tab 5mg; Tab 10mg(external link) Biofeedback pelvic floor exercises, anticholinergic agents including oxybutynin Tab 5 mg; Oral liq 5 mg per 5 ml(external link) botulinum A toxin bladder training	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (solifenacin).
Cefuroxime axetil open listing for bacterial infections	GlaxoSmithKline(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '14)	Cefaclor monohydrate Cap 250 mg; Grans for oral liq 125 mg per 5 ml(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Micafungin for invasive candidiasis and other indications	Seqirus - Mycamine(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '15)	Caspofungin Inj 50 mg vial; Inj 70 mg vial(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Rilpivirine for HIV/AIDS	Janssen - Edurant(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '13)	Efavirenz Tab 200 mg; Tab 600 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C, lower-risk groups, genotype 1.	Gilead Sciences - Sovaldi(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (May '15)	Glecaprevir with pibrentasvir Tab 100 mg with pibrentasvir 40 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (glecaprevir with pibrentasvir (Maviret)).
Sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C with decompensated cirrhosis and a MELD score <15	Gilead Sciences - Sovaldi(external link)(external link)	PTAC: High (May '15)	Ledipasvir with sofosbuvir Tab 90 mg with sofosbuvir 400 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (Harvoni)).
Sofosbuvir for chronic hepatitis C, advanced disease	Gilead Sciences - Sovaldi(external link)(external link)	PTAC: High (May '15)	Ledipasvir with sofosbuvir Tab 90 mg with sofosbuvir 400 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (ledipasvir with sofosbuvir (Harvoni)).
Sofosbuvir + velpatasvir for chronic hepatitis C	Gilead Sciences - Epclusa(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Medium (August ‘17)	Glecaprevir with pibrentasvir Tab 100 mg with pibrentasvir 40 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (glecaprevir with pibrentasvir (Maviret)). The proposal to decline is for the funding of sofosbuvir with velpatasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection in patients over the age of 18, including genotypes 1 to 6. Please note that this is separate to the application for the funding of sofosbuvir with velpatasvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in genotype 3 patients with decompensated cirrhosis. This application is currently being assessed by PHARMAC.
Tenofovir alafenamide for chronic hepatitis B in adults	Gilead Sciences(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '18)	Tenofovir disoproxil Tab 245 mg (300.6 mg as a succinate)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Tenofovir, emtricitabine, elvitegravir and cobicistat combination for HIV	Gilead Sciences(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '14)	HIV treatments including: Non-nucleosides Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors(external link) Nucleosides Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors(external link) Protease Inhibitors(external link) Strand Transfer Inhibitors(external link) Emtricitabine with tenofovir disoproxil	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis	Bristol-Myers Squibb - Orencia(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '18)	Etanercept Inj 25 mg; Inj 50 mg autoinjector; Inj 50 mg prefilled syringe(external link) Adalimumab Inj 20 mg per 0.4 ml prefilled syringe; Inj 40 mg per 0.8 ml prefilled pen; Inj 40 mg per 0.8 ml prefilled syringe(external link) Infliximab Inj 100 mg; Inj 1 mg for ECP(external link) Tocilizumab Inj 20 mg per ml, 4 ml vial; Inj 20 mg per ml, 10 ml vial; Inj 20 mg per ml, 20 ml vial; Inj 1 mg for ECP(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Golimumab for rheumatoid arthritis as a second line tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor	Merck Sharp & Dohme - Simponi(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (May '10)	Etanercept Inj 25 mg; Inj 50 mg autoinjector; Inj 50 mg prefilled syringe(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded an alternative medicine for this group (etanercept).
Ibandronate for osteoporosis	Subcommittee recommendation(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '14)	Zoledronic acid Inj 0.05 mg per ml, 100 ml, vial(external link) Risedronate sodium Tab 35 mg(external link) Alendronate sodium Tab 70 mg(external link) Alendronate sodium with colecalciferol Tab 70 mg with colecalciferol 5,600 iu(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Aripiprazole depot injection for schizophrenia	Lundbeck(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '15)	Paliperidone Inj 25 mg syringe; Inj 50 mg syringe; Inj 75 mg syringe; Inj 100 mg syringe; Inj 150 mg syringe(external link) Olanzapine Inj 210 mg vial; Inj 300 mg vial; Inj 405 mg vial(external link) Risperidone Tab 0.5 mg; Tab 1 mg; Tab 2 mg; Tab 3 mg; Tab 4 mg; Oral liq 1 mg per ml(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Asenapine for bipolar 1 disorder or schizophrenia	Lundbeck - Saphris(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '13)	Clinical advice highlighted the following possible alternatives: Funded antipsychotics including Ziprasidone Cap 20 mg; Cap 40 mg; Cap 60 mg; Cap 80 mg; and(external link) Aripiprazole Tab 5 mg; Tab 10 mg; Tab 15 mg; Tab 20 mg; Tab 30 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Duloxetine hydrochloride for depression – treatment resistant major depressive disorder	Eli Lilly - Cymbalta(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '09)	Clinical advice highlighted the following possible alternatives: Funded antidepressants including Mirtazapine Tab 30 mg; Tab 45 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Galantamine for Alzheimer’s disease	Janssen - Reminyl(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (Jul '08)	Donepezil hydrochloride Tab 5 mg; Tab 10 mg(external link) Rivastigmine Patch 4.6 mg per 24 hour; Patch 9.5 mg per 24 hour(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). Since we received this clinical recommendation, we have funded alternative medicines for this group (donepezil and rivastigmine).
Lidocaine [lignocaine] 2% gel (community listing) open listing for pain	PHARMAC initiated(external link)(external link)	PTAC: No formal recommendation (May ’13)	The following treatments are funded under certain clinical circumstances: Lidocaine [Lignocaine] with prilocaine Crm 2.5% with prilocaine 2.5%; Crm 2.5% with prilocaine 2.5% (5 g tubes)(external link) Lidocaine [Lignocaine] Crm 4%(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). PTAC considered several topical anaesthetics for a number of uses and concluded that alternative topical anaesthetics should be considered to be funded.
Naratriptan for migraine	GlaxoSmithKline(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Decline (Feb’14)	Sumatriptan Tab 50 mg; Tab 100 mg; Inj 12 mg per ml, 0.5 ml prefilled pen(external link) Rizatriptan Tab orodispersible 10 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). PTAC recommended that no further triptans should be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Nicotine inhaler for smoking cessation	Johnson & Johnson Medical - Nicorette(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '14); Mental Health Subcommittee: Cost neutral (Jun '18)	Nicotine Patch 7 mg; Patch 14 mg; Patch 21 mg; Lozenge 1 mg; Lozenge 2 mg; Gum 2 mg (Fruit); Gum 2 mg (Mint); Gum 4 mg (Fruit); Gum 4 mg (Mint)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Paliperidone tablets for schizophrenia second-line to risperidone or quetiapine	Janssen - Invega(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '09)	Aripiprazole Tab 5 mg; Tab 10 mg; Tab 15 mg; Tab 20 mg; Tab 30 mg Olanzapine Tab 2.5 mg; Tab 5 mg; Tab orodispersible 5 mg; Tab 10 mg; Tab orodispersible 10mg; Inj 10 mg vial(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Peginterferon beta-1a for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis	Biogen(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '17)	Interferon beta-1-alpha Inj 6 million iu prefilled syringe; Injection 6 million iu per 0.5 ml pen injector(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Quetiapine extended-release tablet for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder	AstraZeneca – Seroquel XR(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Low (Aug '10)	Quetiapine Tab 25 mg; Tab 100 mg; Tab 200 mg; Tab 300 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). The Committee considered that evidence wasn’t provided in the application that demonstrated an additional benefit of this formulation over funded standard release quetiapine.
Reboxetine for depression	PHARMAC initiated(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '13)	Clinical advice highlighted the following possible alternatives: Citalopram hydrobromide Tab 20 mg(external link) Fluoxetine hydrochloride Tab dispersible 20 mg, scored; Cap 20 mg(external link) Escitalopram Tab 10 mg; Tab 20 mg(external link) Sertraline Tab 50 mg; Tab 100 mg(external link) Paroxetine Tab 20 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Rivastigmine capsules for Alzheimer’s disease	Novartis - Exelon(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '10)	Donepezil hydrochloride Tab 5 mg; Tab 10 mg(external link) Rivastigmine Patch 4.6 mg per 24 hour; Patch 9.5 mg per 24 hour(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Enzalutamide for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer	Seqirus - Xtandi(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '16); CaTSoP Subcommittee: Recommended alteration to access criteria (Mar '17)	Abiraterone acetate Tab 250 mg(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Nab-paclitaxel for metastatic breast cancer	Specialised Therapeutics Ltd - Abraxane(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Aug '14)	Paclitaxel Inj 30 mg; Inj 100 mg; Inj 150 mg; Inj 300 mg; Inj 1 mg for ECP(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Vinorelbine (oral) for non-small cell lung cancer	Pierre Fabre(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '09)	Vinorelbine Inj 10 mg per ml, 1 ml vial; Inj 10 mg per ml, 5 ml vial; Inj 1 mg for ECP(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Aclidinium for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Te Arai Biofarma – Bretaris Genuair(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '15)	Indacaterol Powder for inhalation 150 mcg; Powder for inhalation 300 mcg(external link) Glycopyrronium Powder for inhalation 50 mcg per dose(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Bimatoprost 0.03% and timolol maleate 0.5% for open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension	Allergan - Ganfort(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '09)	Latanoprost Eye drops 0.005%(external link) Travoprost Eye drops 0.004%(external link) Bimatoprost Eye drops 0.03%(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Brimonidine tartrate eye drops 0.15% for glaucoma	Allergan(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '08)	Brimonidine tartrate Eye drops 0.2%(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Ketotifen fumarate for ocular allergy	Novartis - Zaditen(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '08)	Levocabastine Eye drops 0.5 mg per ml(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Travoprost and timolol for glaucoma	Alcon - Duotrav(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Feb '09)	Latanoprost Eye drops 0.005%(external link) Travoprost Eye drops 0.004%(external link) Bimatoprost Eye drops 0.03%(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Pepticate extensively hydrolysed infant formula for protein allergy	Nutricia - Pepticate(external link)(external link)	Special Foods Subcommittee: Cost neutral (Dec '17)	Extensively hydrolysed formula Powder(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Lorenzo's oil for adrenoleukodystrophy	PHARMAC initiated(external link)(external link)	PTAC: List (May '13)	Consideration for funding of this product can be accessed via the Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment process (NPPA)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). A supplier for this product has not been identified.
Modulen IBD for Crohn’s disease	Nestle – Modulen IBD(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '10)	Oral feed 1.5kcal/ml Liquid (banana); Liquid (chocolate); Liquid (fruit of the forest); Liquid (strawberry); Liquid (vanilla)(external link) Oral feed (powder) Powder (chocolate); Powder (vanilla)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
NutriniDrink paediatric oral feed powder	Nutricia - NutriniDrink(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (May '14)	Paediatric oral feed 1kcal/ml Liquid (chocolate); Liquid (strawberry); Liquid (vanilla)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).
Fortijuice oral feed for malnutrition	Nutricia- Fortijuice(external link)(external link)	Special Foods Subcommittee: No formal recommendation (May ’10)	Oral feed (powder) Powder (chocolate); Powder (vanilla)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link). The Subcommittee considered that juice style supplements are equivalent to milk supplements.
Fortisip Compact 2.4Kcal/ml oral feed for oral nutrition support	Nutricia – Fortisip Compact(external link)(external link)	PTAC: Cost neutral (Nov '15)	Oral feed (powder) Powder (chocolate); Powder (vanilla)(external link)	Please click here for further information(external link)(external link).

To provide feedback

Send us an email: applicationfeedback@pharmac.govt.nz by 5pm Friday 30 October 2020.

All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by PHARMAC’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making a decision on this proposal.

Feedback we receive is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Anyone providing feedback, whether on their own account or on behalf of an organisation, and whether in a personal or professional capacity, should be aware that the content of their feedback and their identity may need to be disclosed in response to an OIA request.

We are not able to treat any part of your feedback as confidential unless you specifically request that we do, and then only to the extent permissible under the OIA and other relevant laws and requirements. If you would like us to withhold any commercially sensitive, confidential proprietary, or personal information included in your submission, please clearly state this in your submission and identify the relevant sections of your submission that you would like it withheld. PHARMAC will give due consideration to any such request.