List of new medicines funded, or access widened, in 2020/21
Thank you for your request dated 12 January 2022 under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) for information relating to new medicines funded, or access widened, as noted in our Year in Review report for 2020/21. You requested:
…it was reported that Pharmac funded 13 new medicines and widened access to 19 medicines already funded. Could you please send me a list of what these decisions were?
The table below provides data on new investment decisions that PHARMAC has made to 30 June 2021 for implementation in the financial year 2020/21.***
Investment decisions are classified as access widening (AW)* or new listings (NL)**
| Pharmaceutical (number of chemicals) | Used to treat | Decision type |
|---|---|---|
| Atomoxetine | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | AW |
| Infliximab | Less severe presentations of plaque psoriasis | AW |
| Mifepristone | Medical abortion | AW |
| Misoprostol | Medical abortion | AW |
| TNF-alpha inhibitors (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept) | Pyoderma gangrenosum | AW |
| Enteral liquid peptide formula | Children with impaired gastrointestinal (GI) function | NL |
| High protein enteral feed 1.26 kcal/ml | Patients with elevated protein needs | NL |
| Lidocaine [lignocaine] 2% gel, urethral syringe | Rectal administration for intractable rectal pain/tenesmus | AW |
| Ticagrelor | Neurological stenting | AW |
| Methylphenidate Hydrocholoride Extended Release | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) first-line use. | AW |
| Adalimumab, etanercept and tocilizumab | Juvenile idiopathic arthritis | AW |
| Dornase alfa | Cystic fibrosis | AW |
| Emicizumab | Severe haemophilia A and high titre inhibitors | NL |
| Pimecrolimus cream | Atopic dermatitis of the eyelid | NL |
| Desmopressin | Treatment of central/cranial diabetes insipidus, nocturnal enuresis and nocturia | AW |
| Empagliflozin (with and without metformin) | People with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk of heart and kidney complications | NL |
| Febuxostat | Prevention of tumour lysis syndrome | AW |
| Sirolimus | Lymphovascular malformations and tuberous sclerosis complex complications | AW |
| Valganciclovir | Cytomegalovirus prophylaxis and treatment in transplant patients | AW |
| Multiple Sclerosis Treatments (multiple medicines) | Multiple sclerosis | AW |
| Nitrofurantoin | Urinary-tract infections | NL |
| Rituximab | Membranous nephropathy | AW |
| Latanoprost with timolol | Raised intra-ocular pressure (glaucoma) in patients not adequately responding to monotherapy | NL |
| Ethinylestradiol with desogestrel | Oral contraceptive | AW |
| Secukinumab | Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis | AW |
| Bendamustine | Relapsed or refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | AW |
| Carglumic acid | Hyperammonaemia arising from severe organic acidaemia | NL |
| Coenzyme Q10 | Treating inborn errors of metabolism responsive to Coenzyme Q10 supplementation | NL |
| Levocarnitine | Treating inborn errors of metabolism responsive to Levocarnitine supplementation | NL |
| Riboflavin | Treating inborn errors of metabolism responsive to Riboflavin supplementation | NL |
| Arginine | Treating inborn errors of metabolism responsive to supplementation | NL |
| Taurine | Treating specific mitochondrial disorders responsive to supplementation | NL |
* Changes in access criteria for existing funded medicines, making them more accessible and/or available for a wider patient population(s).
** Any medicine not currently listed on the Schedule and any new presentations (i.e. tablet, infusion, injection) that represent a significant shift in treatment options for patients.
*** Excludes temporary access widenings due to COVID-19
We trust that this information answers your queries. We are making our information more freely available, so we now publish selected OIA responses (excluding personal details) on our website. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about this.