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10 September 2008 To all interested parties

Request for information: topical anti-acne treatments

PHARMAC is currently investigating the feasibility of listing and subsidising without restriction a topical anti-acne treatment (or treatments) on the Pharmaceutical Schedule as a first line therapy for acne vulgaris. Background Up until 1997 PHARMAC subsidised the following anti-acne products on the Pharmaceutical Schedule without any restrictions: · · · · Benzoyl peroxide (gel 2.5%; gel 5%; gel 10%; lotion 5%; lotion 10%); Clindamycin phosphate (lotion 1%; solution 1%); Erythromycin (solution 2%); and Tretinoin (cream 0.05%; gel 0.05%; liquid 0.05%; lotion 0.05%)

In 1997 a review of topical anti-acne treatments was undertaken. Following this, all of the chemicals were removed from the Pharmaceutical Schedule, which resulted in no funded topical anti-acne treatments. There have been no changes to the funding status since 1997. The Pharmacology Advisory and Therapeutics Committee (PTAC) have considered anti-acne treatments on two separate occasions in the last 12 months. PTAC recommended that a topical anti-acne treatment be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule and gave this recommendation a medium/high priority. PTAC also considered that a competitive process could be run for one topical anti-acne treatment. Request for Information If topical anti-acne treatments were listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule, it would mean that the treatment(s) would be publicly funded for patients if dispensed pursuant to a prescription. PHARMAC seeks information from all stakeholders (including patient and health professional groups, individual patients and health professionals, and suppliers) regarding the following: · The clinical need for a funded topical anti-acne treatment (or treatments);

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· Any preferences for topical anti-acne treatments and your reasons for the preferences in particular: · · · · · chemicals; strengths; presentation types (e.g. cream, lotion, gel, solution); brands; suppliers;

· Any particular health benefits of one class or group of chemicals over the others (e.g. retinoids, benzoyl peroxides, antibiotics); · The appropriateness of funding just one topical anti-acne treatment or one topical anti-acne class/group of chemicals through a competitive sole supply process; · Estimated number of patients who would benefit from funded access to topical anti-acne treatments (and nature of the benefit); · Proposed restrictions to apply to dispensing of funded topical anti-acne treatments (if any); and · Any additional information considered relevant to a proposal to list topical anti-acne treatments on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

PHARMAC is also requesting specific information from pharmaceutical suppliers of topical anti-acne treatments. Pharmaceutical suppliers should refer to www.pharmac.govt.nz for this information request. Following consideration of all responses PHARMAC will make a decision on how best to proceed. This may include a competitive process for the supply of a topical anti-acne treatment (or treatments), possibly by including topical anti-acne treatments in the 2008/09 annual multi-product tender later this year. Please forward all responses to Mike Bignall at PHARMAC at PO Box 10-254, Wellington 6143, or email to mike.bignall@pharmac.govt.nz by Wednesday 8 October 2008. We look forward to receiving your responses. Yours sincerely

Mike Bignall Therapeutic Group Manager

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