Proposal to decline inactive funding applications
On this page
What we’re proposing
To provide clarity about which medicines we’re actively considering for funding, we’re proposing to decline 19 funding applications.
All of these applications are inactive which means Pharmac is not currently progressing them.
We understand that a proposal to decline an application may not be what people were hoping for and that is disappointing to hear a medicine is being proposed to be declined. We want your feedback to help us understand whether the funding applications in this consultation should be declined.
Consultation closes at 5 pm on Tuesday 9 September 2025 and feedback can be emailed to applicationfeedback@pharmac.govt.nz
What would the effect be?
Pharmac’s role is to secure the best health outcomes possible for New Zealanders through medicines and related products within the available funding. Because we work within a fixed budget, this requires us to make difficult choices about what can be funded. Medicines funded by Pharmac are listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule(external link).
We are committed to making our decision-making process clearer and easier for people to understand. We want to ensure people can easily see what is happening with funding applications, including what stage applications are at, and why we make our decisions.
We know people want to see us reach decisions on funding applications so they have certainty about whether a medicine is, or is not, being considered, even if our decision is to decline funding.
Because of this, we’re considering declining a number of inactive applications. These applications may be inactive for a number of reasons, including:
- our expert clinical advisors have recommended that the funding application be declined
- other medicines for the same condition are now funded making the funding application no longer relevant
- our expert clinical advisors have recommended that the medicine would provide no additional benefits over other treatments we already fund, or it may be harmful
- no company is willing to supply the medicine in New Zealand
- we have been waiting for further information on the application from the applicant for at least one year.
Details about our proposal
We have identified 19 inactive funding applications that we are proposing to decline. We will not make a decision on these until we have considered all of the information made available to us.
At the bottom of this document we have noted all 19 applications and the reason we are proposing to decline them. We are interested to hear from you whether this reason is appropriate or if we should reconsider declining the application. It is important to note that Pharmac has not yet made a decision about these funding applications. We want to consider all relevant information before any final decisions are made.
Declining the application would mean the medicine would not be funded for the use requested at this time. This would not prevent Pharmac from reconsidering funding for the medicines in the future if information became available that addresses the reason for the decline. For example, if new evidence, or other relevant information, became available which addresses the reasons for the decline decision.
We will consider all of the feedback we receive before we make any decisions on these funding applications. The final decisions would be made in line with Pharmac’s Factors for Consideration, and by the Pharmac Board or its delegate. We expect to make these decisions over the next few months.
If we decided to decline a funding application, we can still consider funding the medicine for individuals with exceptional circumstances through the wider Exceptional Circumstances Framework.
More information about how medicines are funded is available on the Pharmac website.
Share your feedback with us
If you have information to share about any of the applications in the table at the end of this proposal, or a reason we should not progress declining the application please let us know.
Send us an email with this information to applicationfeedback@pharmac.govt.nz by 5pm on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by Pharmac’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making a decision on this proposal.
Your feedback may be shared
When you give feedback on a consultation, your feedback becomes official information that Pharmac holds. Pharmac has legal responsibilities for how we manage this official information, under laws such as the Official Information Act and Privacy Act.
Pharmac may receive a request from people for official information, which could include your feedback. Legally, Pharmac must consider whether your feedback should be released.
We will consider your views when assessing whether the feedback has to be released. Tell us if there is anything about your feedback that you would prefer wasn’t released.
If your feedback is proposed for release, then Pharmac will contact you, unless there is a legal reason that we can't.
Please note that Pharmac collects and holds your information in line with our Privacy Statement.
Glossary of words and terms
To help you understand the words and terms in the table at the bottom of this page, outlining the applications we are proposing to decline, we have explained what some of these mean below.
|
Term |
What does it mean? |
|---|---|
|
Application |
A funding application is a request to fund a specific medicine, or related product, for a specific condition or under specific clinical circumstances. It is usually received from a supplier, clinician, consumer or generated by Pharmac staff. |
|
Inactive application |
Following consideration of expert clinical advice, we are not working on progressing the medicines for funding for the use requested. |
|
The Factors for Consideration are the framework we use when making funding decisions. The Factors are not weighted or applied rigidly, and not every factor is relevant for every funding decision Pharmac makes. This is because the situation for one assessment may require quite different considerations compared with another. Funding decisions are made relative to other options. The context within which decisions are made is constantly changing. |
|
|
Medsafe is the Government body responsible for the regulation of medicines and medical devices in New Zealand, ensuring they have acceptable quality, efficacy and safety. |
|
|
The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC)
|
Pharmac’s statutory clinical advisory committee, the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee, PTAC, is made up of senior health practitioners from a range of specialities. It considers evidence for funding applications and takes into account all of the Factors for Consideration before making objective clinical recommendations to Pharmac. |
|
Specialist Advisory Committees (previously known as Subcommittees) |
Pharmac’s specialist advisory committees provide Pharmac with objective specialist knowledge and expertise within specific clinical areas, such as diabetes, cancer, and mental health. They meet as needed to discuss funding applications and issues within their clinical areas. The specialist advisory committees have a different, but complementary, role to that of PTAC. Their expertise and perspectives can differ from those of PTAC. |
|
Recommended for decline |
A recommendation to Pharmac from PTAC or a Specialist Advisory Committee to decline the funding application. A recommendation is not a decision by Pharmac. |
|
Cost neutral recommendation |
A recommendation to Pharmac from PTAC or a Specialist Advisory Committee to only fund a medicine if it costs the same or less than another comparable medicine or combination of medicines (ie one that is already funded which provides the same or similar health benefits). |
|
Proposing to decline |
A proposal from Pharmac to decline funding for a medicine. This is publicly consulted on before a final decision is made. |
|
Decline decision |
A decision by Pharmac (the Board or its delegate), using the Factors for Consideration, to decline funding for a medicine. Pharmac decides which medicines will be funded, comparing all the options, to ensure we are getting the best possible health outcomes for New Zealanders from a fixed budget. |
Applications we’re proposing to decline
In the tables below you can find information on each of the applications that we are proposing to decline and the reasons why. For ease of navigation, the applications have been categorised by therapeutic area.
All of the applications are available to view on the Application Tracker(external link) on the Pharmac website.
Alimentary Tract and Metabolism
Anaesthetics, Analgesics and Anti-Nausea
Alimentary Tract and Metabolism
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Levofloxacin - Helicobacter pylori - second line use |
There is no Medsafe approved product available in New Zealand. We are not aware of any supplier willing to pursue Medsafe approval. |
Anaesthetics, Analgesics and Anti-Nausea
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Netupitant/palonosetron - Prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic anti-cancer treatments. |
The Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in October 2023(external link). |
Please also be aware that a separate funding application for netupitant/palonosetron for prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic anti-cancer treatments(external link) would remain active and would be unaffected should this application be declined. |
Anti-Infectives
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sofosbuvir - Hepatitis C, direct-acting antiviral (all genotypes) |
|
Since this application was received, alternative medicines for the treatment of hepatitis C, Maviret (glecaprevir with pibrentasvir)(external link) and Harvoni (ledipasvir with sofosbuvir)(external link), have been funded. |
Application Tracker information for Sofosbuvir - Hepatitis C, direct-acting antiviral(external link) |
Haematology Oncology
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pipobroman - Polycythaemia and essential thrombocythaemia |
There is currently no Medsafe approved product available in New Zealand. We are not aware of any supplier willing to pursue Medsafe approval. |
We understand pipobroman has been discontinued globally. |
Mental Health
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Micronutrient formulas - ADHD and or mood dysregulation |
There is currently no Medsafe approved product available in New Zealand. We are not aware of any supplier willing to pursue Medsafe approval. |
||
|
Memantine hydrochloride - Dementia, moderate, cholinesterases not tolerable |
|
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in November 2023(external link). |
|
|
Memantine hydrochloride - Dementia, 1st line |
|
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in November 2023(external link). |
Application Tracker information for Memantine hydrochloride - Dementia, 1st line.(external link) |
|
Esketamine - treatment resistant depression, post augmentation |
|
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in February 2024(external link). |
Musculoskeletal
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Guselkumab - First-line biologic, psoriatic arthritis where DMARDs are not effective |
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in November 2023.(external link) |
||
|
Secukinumab - Ankylosing spondylitis, 1st biologic line |
|
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in November 2023.(external link) |
Neurology
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Deflazacort - Duchenne muscular dystrophy |
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in May 2024.(external link) |
Application Tracker information for Deflazacort - Duchenne muscular dystrophy.(external link) |
|
|
Fampridine - Symptomatic walking improvement for people with MS |
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in November 2014.(external link) |
Oncology Agents
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Atezolizumab - Urothelial carcinoma, locally advanced or metastatic, 2nd line |
Since this application was received, an alternative medicine for the second line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, pembrolizumab(external link), has been funded. |
||
|
Dabrafenib - Melanoma, stage III/IV with BRAF V600 mutation |
|
Since this application was received, alternative treatment for melanoma, stage III/IV with BRAF V600 mutation, dabrafenib with trametinib(external link), has been funded. |
|
|
Vemurafenib - Melanoma, Stage IIIC/IV with BRAF V600 mutation |
Since this application was received, alternative treatment for melanoma, stage III/IV with BRAF V600 mutation, dabrafenib with trametinib(external link), has been funded. |
Please also be aware that a separate funding application for vemurafenib in combination with cobimetinib(external link) would remain active and would be unaffected should this application be declined. |
Rare Disorders
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SMA treatments - People with SMA type IV (aged 19 years and over at symptom onset) |
The Rare Disorders Advisory Committee recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in March 2023(external link). |
Sensory Organs
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aflibercept - Wet age-related macular degeneration, 3rd-line |
PTAC recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in May 2017.(external link) |
||
|
Cefuroxime intracameral ophthalmic preparation - Endophthalmitis prophylaxis, post-cataract surgery |
|
There is no Medsafe approved product available in New Zealand. We are not aware of any supplier willing to pursue Medsafe approval. |
Please note this application was previously proposed for decline, but was kept open after a supplier indicated that a Medsafe approved cefuroxime product suitable for the indication might become available in New Zealand.(external link) However, updated information from the supplier confirmed that this product will not be made available, leading to the application now being proposed for declined. |
Vaccines
|
Pharmaceutical and indication |
Applicant |
Why we are proposing this application be declined |
Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Meningococcal group B vaccine - Invasive meningococcal disease - All adolescents 13-25 years |
The Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended that the application be declined at its meeting in November 2023(external link). |
Please also be aware that a separate funding application for |