From GayNZ.com
Funding for new HIV drug 'high priority'
By GayNZ.com News Staff
18th May 2008 - 01:30 am
The first in a new class of HIV medications needed by people whose HIV infection has become resistant to existing drugs must be made available free of charge as soon as possible after it is formally registered for use in New Zealand, according to HIV support group Body Positive Auckland.
Raltegravir, an integrase inhibitor which interferes with HIV's reproduction process in a different manner to previous drugs, has been available on free 'compassionate access' while it awaits registration by government agency Medsafe for use in New Zealand.
A spokesperson for manufacturer Merck Sharpe & Dhome says the "Raltegravir file" has been with Medsafe "for the past 12 months" but once it is registered, which Body Positive believes will happen soon, it still needs to go through government drug buying agency Pharmac's funding approval process. This means that after registration it will not be available free to anyone who has not already commenced using it, until Pharmac opens its cheque book.
Body Positive's Bruce Kilmister says Raltegravir is an excellent drug which is easy to take, may address cholesterol and lipid concerns associated with some other drugs, and, most importantly, is proving effective for the increasing number of people infected with drug-resistant strains of HIV. Kilmister believes most people currently needing the drug have been able to access it free of charge on compassionate access courtesy of Merck which says their access will continiue. But he fears for those whose need is identified during the time lapse between registration and funding - if, that is, Pharmac approves the funding - and is urging all parties to treat the matter as a "high priority."
Steffan Crausaz, Funding and Procurement Manager at PHARMAC, says that as Raltegravir is a new class of treatment for HIV, "we are very interested in reviewing an application for funding. Should Medsafe approve this medicine, we will consider the funding application through our usual process." For its part, Merck says once registration is obtained it will be pursing the matter "with urgency."
Footnote: "Compassionate access" is an informal term for a provision under Section 29 of the Medicines Act making unregistered treatments available to patients who have a life threatening disease and who cannot be satisfactorily treated with an alternative therapy or available drugs. It is used when drugs are not registered in New Zealand.
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