Posted by Michael Wonder on 30 Jun 2016
New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule - 1 July 2016 update
1 July 2016 - The beginning of a new financial year sees the listing of some new medicines.
Three new treatments for hepatitis C are funded from 1 July 2016:
- Harvoni (ledipasvir with sofosbuvir)
- Viekira Pak (paritaprevir with ritonavir and ombitasvir copackaged with dasabuvir)
- Viekira Pak-RBV (paritaprevir with ritonavir and ombitasvir copackaged with dasabuvir and ribavirin)
Nivolumab (Opdivo) has also been listed for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic (advanced) melanoma, subject to certain clinical criteria being met. Nivolumab will be subsidised via Special Authority, and is a PCT only – Specialist treatment. The Special Authority criteria do not exclude patients who have received prior treatment with PD1 inhibitors or other melanoma treatments.
