Listing of mepolizumab (Nucala) prefilled pen in the Pharmaceutical Schedule
We're pleased to announce that from 1 April 2021 mepolizumab (Nucala) prefilled pen will be listed in the Community and the Hospital Medicines List of the Pharmaceutical Schedule for people with severe eosinophilic asthma.
What we’re doing
We're pleased to announce that from 1 April 2021 mepolizumab (Nucala) prefilled pen will be listed in the Community and the Hospital Medicines List of the Pharmaceutical Schedule for people with severe eosinophilic asthma.
Any changes to the original proposal?
The decision, notified via a notification letter dated 12 March 2020, indicated that new presentations of mepolizumab would be funded once they had received Medsafe approval.
This letter indicated that a prefilled syringe and a prefilled pen presentation of Nucala 100 mg would be listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule at the same price and subsidy as the vial as soon as possible following Medsafe approval.
Now that Medsafe approval has been granted, the prefilled pen will be made available for people with severe eosinophilic asthma, not the prefilled syringe. We consider the prefilled pen presentation to be a highly suitable option for people with severe eosinophilic asthma.
Who we think will be most interested
- People with severe eosinophilic asthma and their whānau
- Respiratory physicians, respiratory nurses, clinical immunologists, and other clinicians involved in the management of people with severe eosinophilic asthma.
- Pharmaceutical suppliers
Detail about this decision
Mepolizumab (Nucala) inj prefilled pen will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2021 as follows:
|
Chemical |
Presentation |
Brand |
Pack size |
Price and subsidy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mepolizumab |
Inj 100 mg prefilled pen |
Nucala |
1 |
$1,638.00 |
Please note current Special Authority and hospital restrictions will continue to apply to the new presentation of mepolizumab.
The same confidential rebate will apply to both presentations of Nucala that reduces the net price to the Funder.
About mepolizumab
Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-5 and is used as an add-on treatment to manage symptoms in people aged 12 years and older who have severe eosinophilic asthma. Mepolizumab is administered by subcutaneous injection once every 4 weeks; Once initiated, treatment is continued on an ongoing basis.