Special Authority approval data for adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, secukinumab and tocilizumab
1 March 2021
Dear [name and contact details withheld]
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Thank you for your request dated 28 January 2021 under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) for information relating to adalimumab, etanercept, secukinumab, infliximab, tocilizumab and rituximab. You requested:
- Nationwide Special Authority initiations and renewals by immunology indication for adalimumab, etanercept, secukinumab, infliximab, tocilizumab and rituximab, by month from April 2020 to Dec 2020.
- DHB-level Special Authority initiations and renewals by immunology indication for adalimumab, etanercept, secukinumab, infliximab, tocilizumab and rituximab, by year, from 2018 onwards
- Monthly Special Authority responses for adalimumab, regarding whether there has been previous use of the other treatment
Please see Appendix 1 included with this response for the information requested.
Please note where fewer than 10 applications were approved, we have changed the number shown to "<10" as we believe this is necessary to protect the privacy of these people (section 9(2)(a) of the OIA).
As required under the OIA, we also considered whether, in the circumstances, the withholding of this information was outweighed by other considerations which render it desirable, in the public interest, to make this information available. In this case we did not consider that the public interest outweighed the reasons for withholding the information.
Please note you have the right, by way of complaint under section 28(3) of the OIA to an Ombudsman, to seek an investigation and review of our decision.
We trust that this information answers your queries. We are making our information more freely available, so we will now publish selected OIA responses (excluding personal details) on our website. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about this.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Read
Manager, Policy and Government Services