Decision to award sole supply agreement for losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide

What we’re doing

We’re pleased to announce the approval of an agreement with Teva Pharma New Zealand Limited (“Teva”) for the supply of losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide. 

The effect of the decision is that:

• the funded brand of losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide will remain the same as it is currently
• from 1 November 2018 the price and subsidy of Teva’s brand of losartan potassium 50 mg with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablets (Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide) will be reduced in Section B and Part II of Section H or the Pharmaceutical Schedule
• Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide will have Sole Subsidised Supply status from 1 February 2019 until 30 June 2021 and Hospital Supply Status from 1 January 2019 until 30 June 2021, with a 1% DV Limit for hospitals.

Who we think will be most interested

• Patients currently using losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide
• Pharmacists
• Prescribers in general practice
• DHBs
• Suppliers of losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide tablets

Detail about this decision

Losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide reduced price/subsidy

• From 1 November 2018 the price and subsidy of Teva’s brand of losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide (Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide) will be reduced in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as follows:

Losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide sole supply

In DHB hospitals

From 1 January 2019 until 30 June 2021, Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide (losartan potassium tab 50 mg with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg tablets) will be awarded Hospital Supply Status for losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide in DHB hospitals. This will result in Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide being the only available brand of losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide tablets in DHB hospitals, subject to a 1% DV limit (i.e. 99% of total volume of losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide purchased by DHB hospitals will be required to be from Teva).

In the community

From 1 February 2019 until 30 June 2021, Arrow-Losartan & Hydrochlorothiazide (losartan potassium tab 50 mg with hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg) will be awarded Sole Subsidised Supply status for losartan potassium with hydrochlorothiazide tablets in the community.

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.