Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC)

The Committee provides objective clinical advice to Pharmac.

On this page

Updates to this page

1 July 2025 | Provisional recommendations May 2025 meeting published

16 June 2025 | February 2025 PTAC meeting record [PDF, 859 KB] added

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. 

2021 PTAC Terms of Reference [PDF, 887 KB]

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. 

Pharmac's prioritisation process

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:
20 May 2024 16 August 2024
19 August 2024 14 and 15 November 2024
7 November 2024 14 February 2025
10 February 2025 15 and 16 May 2025
19 May 2025 15 August 2025
18 August 2025 13 and 14 November 2025

May 2025 PTAC meeting agenda

Summary of applications being discussed at the May 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. 

More about this approach

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.

Download the summary as a PDF [PDF, 284 KB]

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