12 September 2018 - PHARMAC is pleased to announce a decision to list nintedanib (Ofev) and remove the current Special Authority restrictions from tiotropium (Spiriva and Spiriva Respimat) from 1 October 2018, through a provisional agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim NZ Limited.

In summary, this decision will result in the following changes from 1 October 2018:

• Nintedanib (Ofev) will be listed from 1 October 2018 subject to Special Authority restrictions for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. These restrictions are wider than those that currently apply to pirfenidone and will allow earlier access to treatment.
  
• The Special Authority restrictions from tiotropium powder and solution for inhalation (Spiriva and Spiriva Respimat) will be removed from 1 October 2018 accompanied by a net price reduction. This will remove the administrative burden associated with approximately 8500 Special Authority applications per year.
  
• There will be minor changes to the Special Authority restrictions that currently apply to pirfenidone (Esbriet, supplied by Roche).
  
• This decision will also provide savings that can be used for investment in other medicines.
  

Read PHARMAC press release