10 August 2016 - PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to award sole supply status in the community for venlafaxine hydrochloride to Mylan for its Enlafax XR brand of 37.5 mg, 75 mg & 150 mg modifed release capsules from 1 September 2017 until 30 June 2020.

Venlafaxine is listed in the antidepressants sub-group of the Nervous System Therapeutic Group in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

In summary, this proposal would result in:

• the 37.5 mg, 75 mg, and 150 mg presentations of Mylan’s Enlafax XR brand being listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 April 2017 without any restrictions
• a reduction in subsidy and price across all strengths of venlafaxine hydrochloride
• a reduction in subsidy for the currently listed venlafaxine hydrochloride brands (Efexor XR capsules and Arrow-Venlafaxine XR tablets) from 1 June 2017
• Efexor XR capsules and Arrow-Venlafaxine XR tablets being delisted from 1 September 2017.
  no 225 mg presentation being listed from 1 September 2017
• stat dispensing (three months dispensed all-at-once) of venlafaxine hydrochloride from 1 September 2017.

Read PHARMAC consultation