10 December 2013 - A new PHARMAC agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will see two newly listed medicines, improved access to commonly used asthma inhalers, and millions of dollars of savings.

The agreement with the international pharmaceutical company includes five products, three of which – the asthma inhalers fluticasone (Flixotide), salmeterol (Serevent) and the combination inhaler Seretide – are already funded. 

PHARMAC will remove the Special Authority criteria from Seretide, which is currently used by 74,000 New Zealanders with chronic asthma, which will mean anyone whose doctor thinks they need it can have it funded.

PHARMAC will also list the anti-viral influenza treatment zanamavir (Relenza) and the new blood disorder drug eltrombopag (Revolade), while the price will reduce on all three asthma inhalers.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/item/new-agreement-provides-new-medicines-saves-millions