Media release Thursday, December 21 2006
Four into one for new HIV TREATMENT
People taking four tablets a day for HIV will soon only need to take one, following a funding decision by PHARMAC
In the latest decision concerning HIV medicines, the government drug-buying agency will fund fixed-dose abacavir and
lamivudine (Kivexa) from January 1, 2007. Kivexa is a combination of two medicines that are already subsidised for
people with HIV.
PHARMAC estimates that nearly 250 patients will find it more convenient to take their medicine as a result of the
decision.
PHARMAC’s deputy medical director Dr Dilky Rasiah says that currently, the people with HIV being treated with abacavir
and lamivudine need to take four pills a day. From 1 January, that will change to just one pill once a day.
“The change will mean treatment is easier for patients, prescribing is easier for doctors and dispensing is easier for
pharmacists,” she says.
“This means it will be easier for people to take their medicine properly, which is important in combination HIV therapy
to avoid drug resistance.”
Standard treatment with HIV is to use combination therapy with three or more antiretroviral drugs.
There are no differences between the effect of the combined and separate forms of abacavir and lamivudine, Dr Rasiah
says.
As well as helping people with HIV, the decision is also expected to produce cost savings for District Health Boards, as
the combination pill is cheaper than the individual medications. Savings are estimated at nearly $1.5 million over five
years.
There are approximately 1,300 people diagnosed with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) in New Zealand. Of these, about
700 people are receiving antiretroviral therapy.
PHARMAC currently funds four classes of antiretroviral drugs. Most recently, PHARMAC has approved funding for a new
class of drug (Fuzeon) and for a new type of protease inhibitor (Reyataz).
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