New listings - Laxsol and Redipred

Medicines Decision

PHARMAC is pleased to announce the approval of an agreement with Aspen Pharma Pty Limited for the listing and supply of the oral tablet docusate sodium with sennosides (Laxsol) and Aspen Pharmacare Australia Pty Limited for the listing and supply prednisolone oral liquid (Redipred).

This was the subject of a consultation letter dated 3 October 2014.

Details of the proposal

  • Redipred will continue to be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, but the price and subsidy will reduce as follows from 1 December 2014 (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):
    Chemical Presentation Brand Pack size New price and subsidy
    Prednisolone Oral liq 5 mg per ml Redipred 30 ml OP $7.50
  • Laxsol will continue to be listed in Section B and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule, but the price and subsidy will reduce as follows from 1 December 2014 (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):
    Chemical Presentation Brand Pack size New price and subsidy
    Docusate sodium with sennosides Tab 50 mg withsennosides 8 mg Laxsol 200 $4.40
  • The funding restrictions for Redipred are unchanged as a result of this decision; it remains restricted to children under 12 years of age.

Feedback received

We appreciate all of the feedback that we received and acknowledge the time people took to respond. All consultation responses that were received by 17 October 2014 were considered in their entirety in making a decision on the proposed changes. The table below summarises the key issues raised in relation to specific aspects of the proposal:

Theme Comment
Would like docusate sodium  50 mg with sennosides 8 mg to be included in the 2014/15 tender The decision to accept the alternative commercial proposal (ACP) in relation to the Laxsol brand of docusate sodium 50 mg with sennosides 8 mg will not preclude other suppliers from seeking a listing for this chemical on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. 

More information

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.