11 January 2002 News Update

CILAZAPRIL STILL FULLY SUBSIDISED

The 72,000 New Zealanders taking the blood pressure drug Inhibace (cilazapril) are the main beneficiaries of an agreement between Pharmac and Roche that will see the drug continue to be fully subsidised.

The funding of Inhibace is part of a provisional multi-product agreement with Roche.

The proposed agreement covers five products and if ratified, will also see Pharmac listing a drug for the treatment of heart failure, and another drug for treating patients with kidney failure.

The new heart failure drug is the beta-blocker Dilatrend (carvedilol) and the treatment for anaemia in renal patients is Recormon (erythropoietin beta), in injection form.

The proposed agreement involves significant savings in the region of $24 million over five years.

The consultation period closes on January 18, and after considering feedback, Pharmac will make its decision.

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