Posted by Michael Wonder on 05 Dec 2021
PBS in review (2021)
5 December 2021 - We review the new medicines listed on the PBS in 2021.
The Department of Health has released its final issue of the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits for 2021. One can now review the new medicines listed in the schedule this year.
Below is a list of the new medicines that were listed in Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits in 2021 by month:
- January - Apremilast (Otezla), Daratumumab (Darzalex)
- February - Selexipag (Uptravi)
- March - Dupilumab (Dupixent), Ozanimod hydrochloride (Zeposia)
- April - Fulvestrant (Fulvestrant Sandoz), Romosozumab (Evenity)
- May - Cannabidiol (Epidyolex)'
- June - Galcanezumab (Emgality)
- July - NIL
- August - Alirocumab (Praluent), Risdiplam (Evrysdi)
- September - Cariprazine hydrochloride (Reagila), Obeticholic acid (Ocaliva)
- October - Brolucizumab (Beovu), Ofatumumab acetate (Kesimpta)
- November - Darolutamide (Nubeqa)
- December - Lanadelumab (Takhzyro), Ripretinib (Qinlock)
All up, 18 new medicines. This is an increase over last year when 13 new medicines were listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits.
We have considered ofatumumab acetate (Kesimpta) to be a new medicine. It was first listed on the PBS on 1 April 2015 (as Arzerra) but was delisted on 1 March 2019.
We consider 9 of these 19 medicines to be first in class medicines:
- Apremilast - phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor
- Daratumumab - CD38 receptor antagonist
- Dupilumab - interleukin 4 and 13 receptor antagonist
- Romosozumab - anti-sclerostin agent
- Cannabidiol - cannabinoid
- Galcanezumab - calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist
- Risdiplam - survival of motor neuron 2 protein modulator
- Obeticholic acid - farnesoid X receptor agonist
- Lanadelumab - kallikrein inhibitor
More new medicines were listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits in 2021 than were listed in the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule in 2019-2021.
More PBS & PHARMAC insights will feature MAESTrO Daily this week.
Posted by:
Michael Wonder