10 February 2017 - PHARMAC is pleased to announce the approval of a proposal to maintain full subsidy for gefitinib (Iressa) from 1 April 2017 through an agreement with with AstraZeneca.

This was the subject of a consultation letter dated 20 December 2016.

The proposal was approved as consulted on with no changes.

In summary, the effect of the decision is that:

• The subsidy for gefitinib 250 mg tablets will remain the same as it is now from 1 April 2017, rather than being reduced as previously notified, and it will be fully funded for all eligible patients.
  
• The net price for gefitinib 250 mg tablets will reduce from 1 April 2017 via confidential rebate.
  
• Iressa will have protection from subsidy reduction and delisting until 31 December 2019.
  
• There will be no changes to the current Special Authority criteria or hospital restrictions for gefitinib.
  
• Some of the previously notified changes to the Special Authority for erlotinib (Tarceva) will not be implemented as these would only have been required if gefitinib was not fully funded at 1 April 2017.
  

Read PHARMAC press release