Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC)
The Committee provides objective clinical advice to Pharmac.
On this page
Updates to this page
7 July 2025 | Agenda for August meeting added
1 July 2025 | Provisional recommendations May 2025 meeting published
About the Committee
The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee provides objective clinical advice to help Pharmac make decisions about how to use its funds wisely. It provides and promotes critical appraisal of the strength and quality of evidence for funding applications. This is applied rigorously, systematically, and consistently across all clinical areas.
It's made up of senior health practitioners from a range of specialities, who also regularly work with patients and their families. This means they can bring an evidence-based perspective but also provide insight on how Pharmac’s decisions apply to real people in New Zealand.
The Committee's part in the funding process
The committee's role in considering funding applications is set out in Pharmac’s Operating Policies and Procedures. Pharmac will assess the initial funding application and notify the applicant whether:
- it will be considered by the Committee
- it will be considered by a specialist advisory committee, or
- further information is required before an assessment can be made.
The full details of Committee’s remit can be found in its Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference were updated in 2021 to include the potential to have a consumer member, and increase consumer perspectives, on the Committee.
A recommendation from the Committee is not a guarantee that Pharmac will fund the medicine. Committee's advice is a vital step in the process for considering all funding applications, but it is not the only consideration. Pharmac must look at the whole picture to ensure we are getting the best health outcomes for New Zealand.
Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee members
- Rhiannon Braund (Deputy Chair / Acting Chair) – Head, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
PhD, BPharm, BSc (Biochemistry), FPS, FNZCP, RegPharmNZ - Brian Anderson – Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Specialist
MBChB, Dip Obst, FANZCA, FCICM, PhD - Matthew Dawes – Physician and Clinical Pharmacologist
BSc, MB BS, MRCP, PhD - Elizabeth Dennett – General Surgery - Colorectal
BMedSci, MBChB, GradDipMed, MMedSci, MAppMgt(Hlth), FRACS, FASCRS - Helen Evans – Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology
BSc, MBChB, MRCPCH, FRACP - Bruce King – Specialist Internal Medicine and Nephrology
MBChB, FRACP - Liza Lack – Clinical Director, National Hauora Coalition – Waikato
BMedSci, MB,BS,DRCOG,DFFPA,DCH,PGDip GP (Hons), Dip Strategic Management (Hons), Master Health Science - James Le Fevre – Emergency Medicine Specialist
MBChB, FACEM, MBA, CMInstD - Robyn Manuel – Consumer Member
BSc, MSc (1st class), PhD (Chemistry), PGDip.Public Health, Dip.Te Reo Maori, GradDip.Teaching (Secondary). Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī and Te Aupōuri - John Mottershead – Consultant Neurologist
FRACP, FRCP BM BCh, BA (oxon), MSc (Distinction) - Stephen Munn – Transplant Surgeon
MBChB, FRACS, FACS - Matthew Strother – Medical Oncologist
MD (USA), FRACP - Paul Vroegop – Child & Adolescent Liaison Psychiatrist and Specialist Pain Medicine Physician
MBChB, FRANZCP, FFPMANZCA
Committee members are appointed by the Director-General of Health, in consultation with the Pharmac Board. This process is guided by an appointment protocol [PDF, 72 KB].
Interested senior health practitioners can apply directly or are nominated by professional medical bodies, such as the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Vacancies are posted on the Pharmac careers website(external link).
Committee meeting agenda setting
The scheduling and agenda setting process for advisory meetings considers multiple factors. We aim to balance the relative priorities of:
- clinical advice needed across indications
- the factors for consideration for each application (such as, unmet health need)
- the time since applications were received
- the internal and advisor resource available to support each meeting.
Deadlines for PTAC meetings
If Pharmac chooses to seek PTAC advice on a funding application, the application must have been received by the following dates to be available for consideration at one of PTAC’s four annual meetings.
| Deadline for an application to be received by Pharmac, to be considered by PTAC: | PTAC’s meeting date: |
|---|---|
| 15 August 2025 | |
| 18 August 2025 | 13 and 14 November 2025 |
August 2025 PTAC meeting agenda
Summary of applications being discussed at the August 2025 PTAC meeting
Records of Committee meetings
Provisional recommendations from meeting held 15 and 16 May 2025
We’re trialling a new approach, of releasing provisional recommendations within 30 business days of the Committee meeting.
|
Pharmaceutical and Indication |
Provisional Recommendation |
|---|---|
|
Foslevodopa / foscarbidopa(external link) (branded as Vyalev) for people with advanced Parkinson’s disease, subject to Special Authority criteria |
Medium priority |
|
Etonogestrel subdermal implant(external link) (branded as Implanon NXT) for contraception |
Withheld* |
|
Vanzacaftor, tezacaftor, deutivacaftor(external link) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in people aged six years and older with a non-F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene responsive only to vanzacaftor, tezacaftor, deutivacaftor (non-F/VNZ-responsive), subject to Special Authority criteria |
High Priority |
|
Vanzacaftor, tezacaftor, deutivacaftor(external link) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in people aged six years and over with F508del mutation(s) or another mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene responsive to Trikafta (elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivacaftor (non-F/ETI-responsive), subject to Special Authority criteria. |
Cost Neutral to currently funded Trikafta |
|
Secukinumab(external link) (branded as Cosentyx) as a first line biologic for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa |
Declined |
|
Secukinumab(external link) as a second line biologic for moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, subject to Special Authority criteria |
High Priority |
|
Sacituzumab govitecan(external link) for triple negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, subject to Special Authority criteria |
Withheld* |
|
Durvalumab(external link) (branded as Imfinzi) for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, subject to Special Authority criteria |
High Priority |
*Withheld provisional recommendation – the applicant / supplier has requested the recommendation not be released until full record is available.
Finalised records
Finalised records of Committee meetings are published after they are agreed to by the whole Committee.
2025 Committee meeting records
PTAC record – February 2025 (published 16 June 2025) [PDF, 859 KB]
Who to contact
If you have any questions regarding PTAC, please contact the Expert Advice Coordinator at ptac@pharmac.govt.nz