Decision to secure supply of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules

What we’re doing

We're pleased to announce that we have secured ongoing supply of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules.

This decision means that:

• the Cardizem CD brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem capsules supplied by Sanofi will be funded from 1 October 2021.
• the Apo-Diltiazem CD brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules supplied by Apotex will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule on 1 February 2022. 

From 1 February 2022, the Cardizem CD brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules will be the only funded brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules.

An alternative brand of 120 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules has not been secured. We are continuing to work to source an alternative brand of this product.

What does this decision mean?

People taking diltiazem hydrochloride 180 mg and 240 mg capsules will need to change to the Cardizem CD brand by 1 February 2022 if they want to continue accessing funded 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem capsules. After this date, the Apo-Diltiazem CD brand will no longer be funded in New Zealand.

Any changes to the original proposal?

These decisions were subject to a consultation letter dated 19 February 2021.

Further consultation was undertaken in May 2021.

Following the consultation period and consideration of the feedback we have made the following changes:

• The Cardizem CD brand of 180 mg and 240 mg will be funded from 1 October 2021.
  We had originally consulted that it would be funded from 1 August 2021.

No other changes have been made.

Who we think will be most interested

• People using these medicines and their family, whānau or caregivers.
• Hospital and community pharmacists, DHBs and wholesalers.
• Clinicians and other prescribers of these medicines.
• Suppliers of medicines to the New Zealand market.

Details about this decision

This decision follows Apotex New Zealand Limited’s (Apotex) decision to consolidate its international presence and leave the New Zealand market. Apotex currently supplies the funded brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules (Apo-Diltiazem CD). To continue accessing a funded brand of these medicines people will need to change to the Cardizem CD brand of diltiazem capsules.

An alternative brand of 120 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules has not been secured. We are continuing to work to source an alternative brand of this product.

From 1 October 2021 Sanofi’s Cardizem CD brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as follows:

From 1 February 2022 the Apo-Diltiazem CD brand will be delisted from the Pharmaceutical Schedule and the Cardizem CD brand will be the only funded brand of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules until at least 30 June 2024.

A discretionary variance (DV) limit of 1% will apply to these medicines in DHB hospitals. This means, 99% of the total volume purchases of 180 mg and 240 mg diltiazem hydrochloride capsules are required to be the Cardizem CD brand.

Our response to what you told us

We’re really grateful for the time people took to respond to the consultation on this proposal.

The table provides a summary of the main themes raised in feedback and our responses to the feedback received.

If you have any questions about this decision, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll-free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 66 00 50.