News Release
New drug funding brings hope for 3000 diabetes patients
Auckland, 25 August 2004 – An innovative medicine for type 2 diabetes is to be funded by PHARMAC for the first time in
New Zealand from 1st September 2004. Actos is the first oral medication for type 2 diabetes to be funded for around 10
years and tackles insulin resistance1, the cause of the destructive disease that affects an estimated 200,000 New
Zealanders.
The funding agreement makes Actos available to around 3000 patients with uncontrolled blood sugar levels giving them
another much needed treatment option. It will be made available alone or in combination with other common diabetes
therapies where current treatment has failed. The highest priority group of patients most likely to benefit are those
who are significantly overweight and intolerant to commonly used treatment metformin.
Auckland diabetes specialist Dr Rick Cutfield said the agreement was excellent news for a small number of patients who
could not use current treatments and were running out of options. “This class of medications, known as glitazones, is
widely used by millions of people across the world and work differently from existing options. They help the body use
its own insulin more effectively and studies suggest may slow the progression of the disease.
“The demand for treatment and numbers of patients with type 2 diabetes continues to grow at an alarming rate so new
innovations in treatment are welcomed. Type 2 diabetes has very serious complications including heart disease, blindness
and kidney failure but early diagnosis and treatment can minimise these risks. It is great to finally have a new funded
treatment choice even for a limited number of patients.”
Diabetes currently affects about four percent of the total New Zealand population, but only an estimated half of the
200,000 people know they have it2. New Zealand Ministry of Health reports forecast an increase of over 60% of people
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes by 20212.
Much of this increase will occur because of population growth, ageing, unhealthy diets, obesity and sedentary
lifestyles. There is also a growing incidence of type 2 diabetes – which accounts for about 90% of all cases – at a
younger age.
Eli Lilly and Company NZ Country Manager James Sleigh says the public funding is an enormous boost for diabetes
patients. “Actos is a huge innovation in diabetes treatment. It reduces insulin resistance and allows the body to use
its own insulin more effectively whereas all existing funded treatments are used to manage symptoms of the progression
of diabetes.
“Actos will now be available to some of the patients most in need and gives them hope that slowing the progression of
the disease and the damage it causes may be possible. Patients who are not eligible under the existing funding criteria
will be able to buy Actos privately if they wish.”
ENDS