PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal, resulting from a provisional agreement with Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd, to award Sole Subsidised Supply Status (the only funded brand in the community) and Hospital Supply Status (the only available brand in DHB hospitals, subject to a 5% discretionary variance (DV) limit) to Eprex (erythropoietin alfa) from 1 March 2015 to 28 February 2018 and to widen access to erythropoietin to include:

• Patients with myelodysplasia
• Patients for whom blood transfusion is not a viable treatment option (in hospital only)

Further details of this proposal, including how to provide feedback and background information including proposed transition timelines and how a change to erythropoietin alfa would be managed can be found on the PHARMAC website.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/consultation-2014-06-20-erythropoietin/