Cancer and other medicines funded from 2024 Budget
Following the 2024 budget injection from the Government, we moved fast to fund medicines for New Zealanders.
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This page lists the treatments that we were able to fund thanks to the 2024 budget increase.
Summary
| Status | Cancer medicines | Non-cancer medicines | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funded | 33 | 33 | 66 |
| Considering feedback | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Consultation open | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 33 | 33 | 66 |
Funded cancer medicines
Funded from 1 April 2025 for:
People with renal cell carcinoma that has spread (metastatic) where a first treatment hasn't worked (second line).
We estimate that about 30 people a year would receive axitinib. This number may vary depending on the use of other treatments we have funded.
More information
Media release: Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines
Proposal to fund medicines for cancer and infections, and to change the funded brand of palbociclib
Media release: Pharmac consulting on six medicines for New Zealanders
Funded from 1 May 2025 for
People with acute myeloid leukaemia (a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow).
We are proposing wider access to azacitidine to allow it to be used with the proposed group of people eligible for venetoclax.
More information
Media release: Pharmac consulting on widening access to venetoclax, azacitidine and upadacitinib
Funded from 1 November 2024
for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) that has come back (relapsed) or stopped responding to treatment (refractory), as a second-line treatment.
Bendamustine gives people another treatment option that could extend the time until the cancer returns.
We estimate that up to five extra people would receive bendamustine each year as a result of this decision.
Decision to widen access to cetuximab, bendamustine and pemetrexed
Media release: Pharmac improves access to three cancer medicines
More information
Funded from 1 March 2025 for:
People with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (a type of liver cancer) that is:
- unresectable (can't be operated on) and
- locally advanced (a very large tumour or has spread a little bit) or
- metastatic (has spread to other parts of the body)
There are around 400 people diagnosed with liver cancer in New Zealand each year, approximately two thirds of those have HCC. In the first year of funding, we expect about 66 people will be treated together with bevacizumab and atezolizumab.
More information
Media release:
Request for tenders (RFT): Supply of bevacizumab
Media release: Making more new cancer treatments available for New Zealanders
Funded from 1 March 2025 for
People with advanced ovarian cancer.
There are around 370 people diagnosed with ovarian cancer in New Zealand each year. In the first year of funding, we expect about 70 people will be treated with bevacizumab.
More information
Media release:
Request for tenders (RFT): Supply of bevacizumab
Media release: Making more new cancer treatments available for New Zealanders
Funded from 1 November 2024
for people with metastatic colorectal cancer (bowel cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) located on the left side of the bowel without genetic mutations.
It is funded as a first-line therapy. This is the first treatment given for the disease. We expect around 140 people would receive cetuximab as a first-line treatment in the first year of funding.
Decision to widen access to cetuximab, bendamustine and pemetrexed
Media release: Pharmac improves access to three cancer medicines
More information
Proposal to widen access to cetuximab for bowel cancer
Media release: Significant step forward proposed for bowel cancer
Application Tracker | Cetuximab for bowel cancer (includes clinical advice)(external link)
Funded from 1 November 2024
for people with metastatic colorectal cancer (bowel cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) located on the left side of the bowel without genetic mutations as a second-line therapy. This is where other treatments haven't been successful or have caused severe side effects.
We expect around 240 people would receive cetuximab as a second-line treatment. This would reduce to 150 each year after five years because more and more people would receive treatment in the first line setting.
Decision to widen access to cetuximab, bendamustine and pemetrexed
Media release: Pharmac improves access to three cancer medicines
More information
Proposal to widen access to cetuximab for bowel cancer
Media release: Significant step forward proposed for bowel cancer
Application Tracker | Cetuximab for bowel cancer (includes clinical advice)(external link)
Funded from 1 April 2025 for:
People with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a mutation of the ROS-1 gene, that has spread (metastatic).
We estimate that around 20 people would receive crizotinib each year.
More information
Media release: Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines
Proposal to fund medicines for cancer and infections, and to change the funded brand of palbociclib
Media release: Pharmac consulting on six medicines for New Zealanders
Application tracker | Crizotinib for ROS-1 positive NSCLC(external link)
Funded from 1 June 2025 for
Melanoma with BRAF mutation that can be operated on and is stage IIIB to IV (the stage indicates how far the cancer has spread).
We expect that this treatment could help about 25 people in the first year of funding.
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds and widens access to melanoma medicines
Proposal to fund treatments for Stage III and IV melanoma
Media release: Pharmac proposes to fund more medicines for melanoma
Funded from 1 June 2025 for:
Melanoma with BRAF mutation that has spread to distant parts of the body (metastatic) or cannot be operated on (unresectable).
We expect that this treatment could help about 130 people in the first year of funding.
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds and widens access to melanoma medicines
Proposal to fund treatments for Stage III and IV melanoma
Media release: Pharmac proposes to fund more medicines for melanoma
Funded from 1 May 2025
Ibrutinib is already funded for people with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (a type of cancer of the blood). From 1 May 2025, we have funded ibrutinib regardless of how long it has been since since someone had their last relapse. We expect 1 to 2 people to benefit from this widening of access in the first year of funding. The same change has been made to funding for venetoclax to treat CLL.
This decision resulted from the feedback received from our consultation about funding venetoclax for people with AML.
Funded from 1 April 2025 for:
People with CD22-positive, B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma (ALL):
- that has returned (relapsed) or
- that has not responded to treatment (refractory)
We estimate that around 15 people would receive inotuzumab ozogamicin each year.
More information
Media release: Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines
Proposal to fund medicines for cancer and infections, and to change the funded brand of palbociclib
Media release: Pharmac consulting on six medicines for New Zealanders
Funded from 1 March 2025 for
VIPomas, glucagonomas, gastrinomas, insulinomas, carcinoid syndrome.
Neuroendocrine cancers that start in the neuroendocrine system, which makes and releases hormones that control many body functions.
Lanreotide acetate provides a longer lasting effect than currently funded treatments.
Decision to fund lanreotide for various indications
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds medicines for liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers
Funded from 1 December 2024 for:
People with renal cell carcinoma (renal cell adenocarcinoma, RCC) that has spread to other organs (metastatic). Lenvatinib with everolimus is funded for people where a first treatment hasn't worked or the person has experienced bad side effects from the first treatment.
RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer. About 600 people are diagnosed with RCC each year in New Zealand.
We estimate that about 7 people with kidney cancer would receive lenvatinib in the first year of funding.
More information
Media release: Making more new cancer treatments available for New Zealanders
Proposal to fund lenvatinib for kidney, thyroid and liver cancers and widen access to everolimus
Application Tracker – second line treatment of renal cell carcinoma(external link)
Funded from 1 December 2024 for:
People with a type of liver cancer, called hepatocellular carcinoma, that cannot be operated on (unresectable).
We estimate that about 75 people with liver cancer would receive lenvatinib in the first year of funding.
More information
Media release: Making more new cancer treatments available for New Zealanders
Proposal to fund lenvatinib for kidney, thyroid and liver cancers and widen access to everolimus
Application Tracker – first line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(external link)
Funded from 1 December 2024 for:
metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer – a type of thyroid cancer where the cancer cells look similar to normal thyroid cells. It is the most common type of thyroid cancer.
We estimate that about 30 people with thyroid cancer would receive lenvatinib in the first year of funding.
More information
Media release: Making more new cancer treatments available for New Zealanders
Proposal to fund lenvatinib for kidney, thyroid and liver cancers and widen access to everolimus
Application Tracker – differentiated thyroid cancer(external link)
Funded from 1 November 2024
for people with advanced renal cell carcinoma where the cancer has progressed after initial treatment (second-line treatment).
We expect about 120 people would start this treatment in the first year of funding.
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer and is more common in men. There are no targeted treatment options funded in New Zealand if the current treatment options, sunitinib or pazopanib, stop working.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Nivolumab for advanced renal cell carcinoma(external link)
Funded from 1 April 2025 for:
People with clear cell renal cell cancer (a type of kidney cancer) that has spread (is metastatic) as a first treatment option.
We estimate that around 110 people each year would benefit from these treatments being funded.
Decision to fund treatments for kidney cancer
More information
Media release: Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines
Proposal to fund treatments for metastatic kidney cancer
Media release: Pharmac consulting on six medicines for New Zealanders
Ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab (Yervoy and Opdivo) | Application Tracker(external link)
Funded from 1 January 2025:
People with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as an initial treatment (first line) where the cancer has a specific mutation.
We estimate that around 130 people would benefit from first line treatment with osimertinib each year.
Decision to fund treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer and respiratory conditions
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds more cancer and respiratory medicines for New Zealanders
Proposal to fund treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer and respiratory conditions
Funded from 1 January 2025 for:
People with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as a subsequent treatment (second line) where the cancer has progressed after initial treatment with gefitinib or erlotinib.
We estimate that around 45 people would receive osimertinib in the second line setting in the first year of funding, however this would decrease over time as most people would access osimertinib in the first line setting.
Decision to fund treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer and respiratory conditions
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds more cancer and respiratory medicines for New Zealanders
Funded from 1 February 2025:
People with renal cell carcinoma who cannot take sunitinib because of negative side effects.
This gives people another alternative to treatment when sunitinib doesn't work for them.
Decision to widen access to sunitinib for kidney cancer and change the funded brand
More information
Funded from 1 June 2025 for
Stage IIIB to IV melanoma that can be operated on (is resectable). The stage indicates how far the cancer has spread.
We estimate this will help about 130 people in the first year of funding.
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds and widens access to melanoma medicines
Proposal to fund treatments for Stage III and IV melanoma
Media release: Pharmac proposes to fund more medicines for melanoma
Funded from 1 October 2024
as a second-line treatment (ie if the cancer has progressed after initial treatment) for people with advanced urothelial carcinoma.
We expect about 120 people would start this treatment in the first year of funding.
Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer. Around a quarter of people are diagnosed with advanced disease. Māori and Pacific people are less likely to have this type of cancer compared to the wider population. Chemotherapy is the current treatment.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Pembrolizumab as a second-line treatment for bladder cancer(external link)
Funded from 1 October 2024 for:
people with advanced triple-negative breast cancer that is either locally advanced and can't be operated on or has spread to other parts of the body.
We expect about 40 people would start this treatment in the first year of funding, increasing to 50 people each year after five years of funding.
Breast cancer affects one in nine people over their lifetime and up to 20% have triple negative breast cancer. Māori and Pacific people are more likely to experience worse outcomes from breast cancer compared to other ethnicities. Chemotherapy can be effective in treating this cancer, but often people need more types of treatment.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Pembrolizumab for advanced triple-negative breast cancer(external link)
Funded from 1 October 2024 for:
As an initial treatment for microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR) colorectal cancer which:
- has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) or
- can't be operated on (unresectable)
We expect about 120 people would start this treatment in the first year of funding.
Around 3,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year and 20% have metastatic disease (where the cancer has spread). Chemotherapy is the current treatment when people can’t have surgery, or surgery isn’t enough.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Pembrolizumab for colorectal cancer indication(external link)
Funded from 1 October 2024 for:
people with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) or has come back (recurrent).
We expect about 80 people would start this treatment in the first year of funding.
People with this specific type of head and neck cancer don’t currently have many effective treatment options.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Pembrolizumab for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(external link)
Funded from 1 October 2024:
for people who have already received other treatments for microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR) colorectal cancer that has
- spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) or
- cannot be removed completely through surgery (unresectable).
We added pembrolizumab as a second or later line treatment option following feedback on our consultation.
We expect about 110 people will benefit from this decision in the first year of funding. This will reduce quickly as newly diagnosed people will be able to receive pembrolizumab as an initial treatment from 1 October 2024.
Around 3,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year and 20% have metastatic disease (where the cancer has spread). Chemotherapy is the current treatment when people can’t have surgery, or surgery isn’t enough.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Pembrolizumab for colorectal cancer indication(external link)
Funded from 1 October 2024 for:
people with Hodgkin lymphoma where the cancer has come back (relapsed) or stopped responding to treatment (refractory).
We expect about 20 people would start this treatment in the first year of funding.
Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system (a part of the immune system). About 100 people are diagnosed each year and around 80% have good outcomes after chemotherapy.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Application Tracker | Pembrolizumab to treat people ineligible for autologous SCT(external link)
Funded from 1 November 2024
for any indication where a clinician believes it will help. This is most likely to be for non-small cell lung cancer, but there might be other cancers it could treat.
We estimate that 15 to 25 extra people might benefit from this each year.
Decision to widen access to cetuximab, bendamustine and pemetrexed
Media release: Pharmac improves access to three cancer medicines
More information
Funded from 1 April 2025 for:
More people with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Our clinical advisors have told us that sunitinib could help people live longer and stop the cancer progressing. We are not sure how many people might benefit from our proposal at the moment because we are consulting on other treatments for renal cell carcinoma.
Decision to fund treatments for kidney cancer
More information
Media release: Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines
Proposal to fund treatments for metastatic kidney cancer
Media release: Pharmac consulting on six medicines for New Zealanders
We had previously consulted on widening access to sunitinib.
Funded from 1 February 2025:
More people with metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Our clinical advisors have told us that sunitinib could help people live longer and stop the cancer progressing. We think about 30 more people would be able to get sunitinib each year.
Decision to widen access to sunitinib for kidney cancer and change the funded brand
More information
Funded from 1 January 2025 for:
People with breast cancer that has spread (metastatic) that has progressed after initial treatment.
We estimate that around 120 people would receive T-DXd in the first year of funding, and that this would decrease to around 75 people each year after five years of funding.
Decision to fund treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer and respiratory conditions
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds more cancer and respiratory medicines for New Zealanders
Application tracker | Trastuzumab derutexcan for metastatic breast cancer(external link)
Funded from 1 May 2025 for:
People with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (a type of cancer of blood or bone marrow). We expect about 65 people to benefit in the first year of funding.
Following feedback, we have also widened access for some cases of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer. We expect this to benefit another 8 people in the first year.
More information
Media release: Pharmac consulting on widening access to venetoclax, azacitidine and upadacitinib
Funded non-cancer medicines
Our funding boost is allowing Pharmac to fund many of the high-priority medicines that are high on our options for investment list. Funding these medicines helps address many conditions with a high health need.
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with severe chronic localised genital or flexural plaque psoriasis.
Pharmac has widened access to these medicines to treat people who have plaque psoriasis in places their skin folds (like armpits) and genitals. Psoriasis can make a person’s skin scaly, itchy, and red, affecting their quality of life. Severe psoriasis can cause significant medical and psychological problems – increasing a person’s risk of death.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, subject to eligibility criteria.
Aripiprazole depot injection (also known as aripiprazole long-acting injection and branded as Abilify Maintena) is a medicine used to manage and treat schizophrenia. It can also be used for other psychotic disorders - such as bipolar and schizoaffective disorder - although it is not approved for this use.
It is administered by a health care professional once a month. It helps to restore chemical balance in the brain. It can also be used to lessen the chance of symptoms coming back.
We estimate that about 580 people will benefit in the first year of funding, increasing to about 950 people per year by year five.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
Application Tracker | Aripiprazole long-acting injection(external link)
Funded from 1 December 2024 for:
People who have had a medical abortion, so they can test at home to ensure the abortion was complete. This saves people having to get blood tests.
We estimate about 9,300 people will benefit from the funding of this test in the first year.
Decision to fund β-hCG low sensitivity urine test kits
More information
Proposal to fund β-hCG low sensitivity urine test kits
Media release: Pharmac proposing to fund low sensitivity urine tests
Application Tracker | β-hCG low-sensitivity urine test kit (CheckToP®)(external link)
Funded from 1 January 2025 for:
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (a disease of the lungs). We estimate that over 5,000 people would start using this inhaler in the first year, increasing to around 16,000 people each year after five years of funding.
We estimate that over 5,000 people would start using this inhaler in the first year, increasing to around 16,000 people each year after five years of funding.
Decision to fund treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer and respiratory conditions
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds more cancer and respiratory medicines for New Zealanders
Better access to inhalers from 1 August 2025:
People with asthma:
- can collect three months' worth of inhalers at a time (instead of a month's supply) and
- have inhalers available in clinics for emergencies and people starting asthma treatment.
We expect this will improve access to treatment for about 120,000 people in the first year.
Decision to improve access to budesonide with eformoterol inhalers
More information
Media release: Pharmac to improve access to asthma inhalers and IUDs from 1 August 2025
Proposal to support access to budesonide with eformoterol inhalers
Media release: Pharmac’s plans to improve access to asthma inhalers
Funded from 1 April 2025
to treat people with for people with infections caused by carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
We estimate that around 30 people would receive ceftazidime with avibactam each year.
More information
Media release: Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines
Proposal to fund medicines for cancer and infections, and to change the funded brand of palbociclib
Media release: Pharmac consulting on six medicines for New Zealanders
Application tracker | Crizotinib for ROS-1 positive NSCLC(external link)
Funded from 1 February 2025 for:
People with hypercalcaemia, which occurs when someone has high calcium levels in their blood. This can sometimes be associated with cancer. It is difficult to know what symptoms are caused by the cancer and what symptoms are caused by the high calcium levels.
Denosumab can lower calcium levels which will improve symptoms and quality of life for people and help them to avoid repeated hospitalisations.
In the first year of funding, we expect about 110 people will access denosumab for hypercalcaemia.
More information
Application Tracker – people with hypercalcaemia associated with cancer(external link)
Funded from 1 March 2025 for:
People with osteoporosis, which causes people's bones to become weak and brittle. Our advisors told us that the currently funded treatments may not be suitable for everyone and that denosumab would be easier for people to access and administer.
They told us that access to denosumab would reduce the risk of fractures and help to keep people healthy in their communities.
In the first year of funding, we expect about 1,900 people will access denosumab for osteoporosis.
More information
Funded from 1 April 2025 for:
People who don’t want to or can’t take a contraceptive pill containing oestrogen. It will be funded with no restrictions, so it can be prescribed for any one who needs it.
We expect about 43,000 people to benefit from desogestrel in the first full year of funding.
Decision to fund the oral contraceptive pill desogestrel (Cerazette)
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds new oral contraceptive pill
Media release: Proposal to fund a new oral contraceptive pill
Application Tracker | Desogestrel (Cerazette)(external link)
Fully funded from 1 January 2025 for:
People with skin infections caused by fungus.
We tendered for a supplier of econazole in our 2023/24 annual tender. The funding boost has allowed us to fully fund econazole cream and lift hospital restrictions, making it easier for people to access this treatment.
Funded from 1 December 2024 for:
People with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
We anticipate around 18,000 additional people in New Zealand would access this medicine in the first year of funding. We expect these numbers would grow and after 5 years around 33,000 additional people would benefit from empagliflozin every year.
Decision to widen access to empagliflozin for chronic heart failure
More information:
Media release: New heart medicine for 18,000 New Zealanders
Proposal to widen access to empagliflozin for chronic heart failure
Media release: Pharmac proposes to widen access to medicine used in the treatment of heart failure
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with severe chronic localised genital or flexural plaque psoriasis.
Pharmac has widened access to these medicines to treat people who have plaque psoriasis in places their skin folds (like armpits) and genitals. Psoriasis can make a person’s skin scaly, itchy, and red, affecting their quality of life. Severe psoriasis can cause significant medical and psychological problems – increasing a person’s risk of death.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with iron deficiency anaemia in chronic inflammatory disease. Any relevant practitioner can apply for access, specialist input will not be required.
We estimate that 700 people will benefit in the first year of funding, increasing to about 1,000 people per year by year five.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
From 1 February 2025, we're removing the part charge for the tab 120 mg and adding another strength (tab 180 mg) of fexofenadine, which treats allergy symptoms.
A recent tender award gave us the opportunity to consider making this medicine more accessible. The July funding boost meant that we could take this opportunity, rather than investing elsewhere.
About 2,400 people received fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg tablets between July 2023 and June 2024. From 1 February 2025, these people can access a fully funded brand of fexofenadine hydrochloride. We understand the number of people benefitting from this medicine may increase in future. This means more than 12,000 people are likely to benefit in the next five years.
Funded from 1 November 2024 for:
More people with uncomplicated urinary tract infections.
Fosfomycin was funded for hospital use only. Funding fosfomycin for use in the community avoids the need for some people to be treated for urinary tract infections in the hospital. We expect that around 80% of cases currently treated in hospital could be successfully treated in the community.
We estimate about 2,600 additional people in New Zealand will use fosfomycin in the first year of funding. After five years, approximately 3,700 people will benefit.
Decision to fund fosfomycin in the community for urinary tract infections
More information
Media release: Improved access to medicines for urinary tract infections and Parkinson's disease
Funded for 1 June 2025
for people who get very sick from taking immune checkpoint inhibitors (which are medicines given to treat different cancers). We estimate about 60 people will benefit from this decision in the first year.
Feedback on our proposal to fund pembrolizumab to treat melanoma suggested that we fund treatments for immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicity. We agreed especially because we have recently funded immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat more cancers.
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds and widens access to melanoma medicines
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with severe chronic localised genital or flexural plaque psoriasis.
Pharmac has widened access to these medicines to treat people who have plaque psoriasis in places their skin folds (like armpits) and genitals. Psoriasis can make a person’s skin scaly, itchy, and red, affecting their quality of life. Severe psoriasis can cause significant medical and psychological problems – increasing a person’s risk of death.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
Funded from 1 May 2025 for
People with any type of diabetes. We anticipate about 12,000 people will benefit from this decision in the first full year of funding. We updated this estimate mid-May 2025.
Decision to fund a new type of insulin for the management of diabetes
More information
Proposal to fund a new type of insulin for the management of diabetes
Insulin co-formulation discontinuations: Pharmac medicine notice
Insulin degludec and insulin aspart (Ryzodeg 70-30 Penfill) | Application Tracker(external link)
Funded from 1 August 2025 so
Medical clinics will be able to hold a stock of Mirena and Jaydess IUDs (contraceptives). Previously, people had to collect their own IUD from the pharmacy and take it to their clinic for implanting.
We anticipate that this will improve access to Mirena and Jaydess for over 21,000 people in the first year.
Decision to make it easier to access Mirena and Jaydess IUDs (contraceptives)
More information
Media release: Pharmac to improve access to asthma inhalers and IUDs from 1 August 2025
Proposal to make it easier to access Mirena and Jaydess IUDs (contraceptives)
Media release: 21,000 would benefit from proposed changes to New Zealanders access to contraceptives
Funded from 1 March 2025 for:
Malignant bowel obstruction.
Lanreotide acetate is easier to use than currently funded treatments.
Decision to fund lanreotide for various indications
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds medicines for liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers
Funded from 1 March 2025 for
Acromegaly.
Lanreotide acetate provides a longer lasting effect than currently funded treatments.
Decision to fund lanreotide for various indications
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds medicines for liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers
Funded from 1 February 2025
The funding boost allowed us to take up an opportunity from our Annual Tender to fund combination tablets of levodopa with carbidopa and entacapone.
People will be able to take one combination tablet rather than two (or more) separate tablets. We expect that around 580 people would benefit in the first year of funding. This would increase to 700 after five years.
We currently fund levodopa with carbidopa tablets and entacapone tablets separately on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. These will remain funded.
Media release: Improved access to medicines for urinary tract infections and Parkinson's disease
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with opioid-induced constipation in hospitalised patients outside of palliative care.
Opioids are used to control pain and often lead to constipation. Constipation:
- causes distress
- has a negative impact on quality of life
- can lead to life-threatening complications.
Using opioids when people are sick in hospital with other things can make constipation difficult to treat.
We estimate that over 4,300 extra people will benefit from methylnaltrexone bromide each year.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
Funded from 1 January 2025 for:
Infants and young children at very high risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Decision to fund treatments for lung cancer, breast cancer and respiratory conditions
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds more cancer and respiratory medicines for New Zealanders
Application tracker | Palivizumab to prevent RSV(external link)
Funded from 1 October 2024:
To prevent invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in immunocompromised people.
We expect about 430 people would need this treatment or voriconazole in the first year of funding, increasing to about 535 people each year by year five.
The impact of invasive fungal infections has shown an upsurge in recent years. This is due to the higher number of people who are immunocompromised as a result of various diseases or treatments, like people living with cancer.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Access widened from 1 November 2024:
People with severe chronic localised genital or flexural plaque psoriasis.
Pharmac has widened access to these medicines to treat people who have plaque psoriasis in places their skin folds (like armpits) and genitals. Psoriasis can make a person’s skin scaly, itchy, and red, affecting their quality of life. Severe psoriasis can cause significant medical and psychological problems – increasing a person’s risk of death.
More information
Media release and Q&A: 5,700 people to benefit from widened access to funded medicines
Media release and Q&A: Over 6,000 people will benefit from Pharmac funding proposal if approved
Funded for 1 June 2025
for people who get very sick from taking immune checkpoint inhibitors (which are medicines given to treat different cancers). We estimate this decision will help about 5 people in the first year of funding.
Feedback on our proposal to fund pembrolizumab to treat melanoma suggested that we fund treatments for immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicity. We agreed especially because we have recently funded immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat more cancers.
More information
Media release: Pharmac funds and widens access to melanoma medicines
Funded from 1 May 2025 for:
People with Crohn's disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease).
More information
Media release: Pharmac consulting on widening access to venetoclax, azacitidine and upadacitinib
Application Tracker | Upadacitinib for severe Crohn's disease – first line(external link)
Application Tracker | Upadacitinib for severe Crohn's disease – second line(external link)
Funded from 1 May 2025 for:
People with atopic dermatitis (a type of eczema).
More information
Media release: Pharmac consulting on widening access to venetoclax, azacitidine and upadacitinib
Application Tracker | Upadacitinib for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis(external link)
Application Tracker | Upadacitinib for very severe atopic dermatitis(external link)
Funded from 1 May 2025 for:
People with ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease).
More information
Media release: Pharmac consulting on widening access to venetoclax, azacitidine and upadacitinib
Application Tracker | Upadacitinib for ulcerative colitis(external link)
Funded from 1 May 2025 for:
People with rheumatoid arthritis (an autoinflammatory condition that affects joints)
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Media release: Pharmac consulting on widening access to venetoclax, azacitidine and upadacitinib
Widened access from 1 April 2025 for
people who are being treated for leukaemia and lymphoma. We have recently funded another medicine, inotuzumab for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). One potential side effect of this treatment is blockages in the small veins of the liver (called sinusoidal obstruction syndrome). Ursodeoxycholic acid can help stop this happening. We believe this widening of access will help an extra 12 people in the first year of funding.
When we asked about funding inotuzumab, people alerted us to this serious side effect and suggested that we widen access to ursodeoxycholic acid so it can be used as a preventative.
Proposal to fund medicines for cancer and infections, and to change the funded brand of palbociclib
Funded from 1 October 2024:
To prevent invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in immunocompromised people.
We expect about 430 people would need this treatment or posaconazole in the first year of funding, increasing to about 535 people each year by year five.
The impact of invasive fungal infections has shown an upsurge in recent years. This is due to the higher number of people who are immunocompromised as a result of various diseases or treatments, like people living with cancer.
More information
Media release: First cancer medicine decision following Pharmac funding boost
Media release: Pharmac opens first consultation for cancer medicines after funding boost
Voriconazole application – Application Tracker (includes clinical advice)(external link)
Other medicines we're working on
Current stage: Delayed
Pharmac added zonisamide to the 2023/24 Annual Invitation to Tender, so we could consider funding it this year.
More work needs to be done before we can make a decision on the tender for this treatment.
This means that the timeframe for making zonisamide available will be delayed. It is unlikely to be in 2025.
At this point we can’t provide a definitive timeframe for when a decision will be made, but we are still actively considering zonisamide as part of our Annual Tender process.
We will update you further as more information becomes available.
Thank you for your feedback
We received feedback which reflected how important zonisamide would be for people living with epilepsy, their whānau, and clinicians.
We want to thank you for sharing your views and experiences with Pharmac.
We want to fund it for:
- Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) which are severe childhood epilepsy syndromes. These include syndromes such as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome, Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome, Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy, Epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures.
- Refractory focal epilepsy, which are focal epilepsies that have not responded to at least three epilepsy treatments.
Funding zonisamide would give people with epilepsy more treatment options for these difficult to treat types of epilepsy.
We estimate that about 300 people in New Zealand would use zonisamide in the first year of funding. After 5 years, about 1,200 people would benefit.
More information
Consultation was open from 18 July 2024 until 1 August 2024.
Who to contact
If you have questions about any of the items on this page, email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz