1 June 2004
New treatment funded for HIV/AIDS
A PHARMAC funding decision is to give people with advanced HIV/AIDS access to a new fully-funded treatment.
Kaletra, a combination protease inhibitor drug supplied by Abbott Laboratories, will be fully funded from 1 July 2004.
In addition, those patients requiring immediate treatment and fulfilling the access criteria will be able to receive the
drug through the Exceptional Circumstances scheme.
PHARMAC’s Medical Director Dr Peter Moodie says Kaletra enhances the treatment options available for people in the later
stages of HIV/AIDS.
“These are people for whom there are very few treatment options available, so funding Kaletra will make a very real
difference to these people’s lives,” he says.
“This is the 13th drug subsidised for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, and we estimate that 50 to 100 patients will be
prescribed this drug.”
In addition to funding the drug for people with advanced HIV/AIDS, PHARMAC will be reviewing access by 30 November 2004
to consider Kaletra as a first line treatment. This recognises the recommendation received from a committee of expert
clinicians.
Currently HIV/AIDS treatments account for $6.5 million per year of the pharmaceutical budget, and Kaletra is anticipated
to cost a further $4.5 million over the next four years.
About 600 New Zealanders are prescribed subsidised treatments for HIV/AIDS.
ENDS