17 January 2024 - 2023 was yet another dismal year for New Zealanders in terms of them being able to access new medicines via the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule. Below is a summary of the true/real new medicines listed in the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule last year.

• January - nusinersen sodium (Spinraza)
• February - vedolizumab (Entyvio)
• March - liraglutide (Victoza)
• April - elexacaftor with tezacaftor and ivacaftor and ivacaftor (Trikafta)
• May - risdiplam (Evrysdi)
• June - NIL
• July - NIL
• August - NIL
• September - NIL
• October - NIL
• November - NIL
• December - brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris)

All up just 6 new medicines were listed in the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule last year. 

The list of new indications for 2023 is also remarkably low; this will be addressed this in a future issue of MAESTrO Daily.