New Zealand to widen access and change the funded brand of hep B and HIV drugs

9 March 2018

New Zealand’s Pharmaceutical Management Agency PHARMAC is proposing to widen access to tenofovir disoproxil and entecavir, antiviral medicines used for the treatment of hepatitis B and HIV.

These changes would have impacts on which the Agency is seeking stakeholder feedback:

From June 1, 2018, the Special Authority and Hospital Restrictions for both chemicals would be removed.
The funded HIV treatment brand of tenofovir disoproxil would change from Viread (supplied by Gilead Sciences [Nasdaq: GILD]) to Tenofovir Disoproxil Teva (supplied by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries [NYSE: TEVA]). Tenofovir Disoproxil Teva would be the only funded brand of tenofovir disoproxil in both the community and hospital setting. A transition period would start June 1, 2018.
Teva’s brand of tenofovir disoproxil is a different salt and strength to the currently funded brand of tenofovir disoproxil (Viread). From June 1, 2018, prescriptions should be written for the base chemical tenofovir disoproxil 245mg. Note, the base chemical (tenofovir disoproxil) of these two brands are the same strength (245mg) and considered clinically equivalent.
The funded hepatitis B brand of entecavir would change from Baraclude (supplied by Bristol-Myers Squibb [NYSE: BMY]) to Entecavir Sandoz (supplied by its parent company Novartis [NOVN: VX]). Entecavir Sandoz would be the only funded brand of entecavir in both the community and hospital setting. A transition period would occur as soon as practical after Entecavir Sandoz is Medsafe registered.
Transition timeframes and further information is detailed below including sole supply, reference pricing, additional repeat funding and brand switch fees.

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