In changes to take effect from 1 September, PHARMAC is moving to have a preferred brand of recombinant Factor VIII, while also maintaining full funding for the other three currently-funded haemophilia products.

Recombinant blood factors are essential treatments for patients with haemophilia. 

The changes to haemophilia treatments funding mean that all funded brands now require minimum levels of stock holding and supply, protecting the availability of haemophilia treatments.

There are about 600 people in New Zealand with haemophilia. About 230 of them use Factor VIII each year and around half of these people may be required to participate in a clinician-managed brand change.

Under the changes, Xyntha will become the preferred brand of Factor VIII. For patients who can’t  receive  Xyntha for clinical reasons, two other brands will be available through application to a Haemophilia Treatments Panel that PHARMAC will establish and co-ordinate.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/media-2015-07-06-haemophilia-treatments/