Decision to fully fund fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets for people with allergies

We are pleased to announce a decision to fully fund fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets, as a result of Pharmac’s 2023/24 Annual Tender. This means:

• The Fexaclear brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets will be fully funded from 1 February 2025.
• Fexaclear (supplied by AFT) will be the Principal Supply brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2027.
• The Telfast brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg tablets will be delisted from 1 July 2025.

At this time, there are no changes to the funded brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 60 mg tablets. The patient part charge on this strength has not changed.

The Government provided additional funding to Pharmac in June 2024 to fund new medicines and widen access to medicines that are already funded. The funding increase covers medicines for both cancer and non-cancer health conditions. This decision is one of many that we’re working on to put our budget increase into action.

Who we think will be most interested

• People with allergies, their whānau, friends and caregivers.
• Healthcare professionals.
• Te Whatu Ora hospitals and other organisations who deliver services and support for people with allergies.
• Pharmacies and wholesalers.
• Pharmaceutical suppliers.
• Advocacy and support groups.

What we’re doing

From 1 February 2025, fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets will be fully funded.

Previously there has been a part charge for people using the fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg tablets. This meant people had to pay some of the cost of the medicine. There will be no patient part charge on the new brand, Fexaclear.

Fexofenadine hydrochloride 180 mg tablets will be listed and fully funded. This strength was not previously funded.

In the first year of funding we expect about 2,300 people to access a fully funded brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride. We understand the number of people benefitting from this medicine may increase in future. This means more than 12,000 people are likely to benefit in the next five years.

2023/24 Annual Tender

Fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets were included in the 2023/24 Annual Tender. We consulted on the draft 2023/24 Annual Tender list in July 2023. We sought feedback on:

• including fexofenadine hydrochloride in the 2023/24 Annual Tender and whether a brand change would be clinically appropriate
• the possibility of fully funding some (or all) strengths of fexofenadine hydrochloride.

We did not receive any feedback about fexofenadine hydrochloride tablets.

Detail about this decision

Fexaclear (AFT) will be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2025 as follows:

There will be no funding restrictions on the listing of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets. This means to will be funded for any appropriate use.

The following changes will apply:

• The Fexaclear brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg tablets will be fully funded from 1 February 2025. No patient part charge will apply.
• The Fexaclear brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 180 mg tablets will be fully funded from 1 February 2025. No patient part charge will apply. This strength of fexofenadine hydrochloride was not previously funded.
• Fexaclear (supplied by AFT) will be the Principal Supply brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg and 180 mg tablets from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2027.
• The Telfast brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg tablets will be delisted from 1 July 2025.

The funded brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride 60 mg tablets and the patient part-charge for this strength will not change. No tender was for fexofenadine hydrochloride 60 tablets. This decision does not stop Pharmac from considering g the part charge for the 60 mg strength in future.

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 660 050.