3 May 2019 - PHARMAC is proposing to make changes to the funding of etanercept, a biologic medicine used to reduce chronic inflammation and treat immune-mediated conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis, from 1 July 2019.

If the proposal is approved, the following changes would occur:

• the current funded brand of etanercept, Enbrel (supplied by Pfizer), would remain fully funded and would be the only funded brand from 1 September 2019 until 30 June 2024;
• funded access for severe chronic plaque psoriasis would be widened by lowering the entry severity and including an alternate measure of treatment response, from 1 July 2019;
• a new 25 mg auto-injector would be listed in the future;
• the net price of etanercept would reduce from 1 July 2019.

Read PHARMAC press release