23 August 2019 - More startling insights from the minutes of the May 2019 PTAC meeting.

The Committee reviewed the application from GSK New Zealand for the funding of a combined inhaler containing fluticasone furoate/ umeclidinium bromide/vilanterol trifenatate (Trelegy Ellipta) for the management and treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The Committee recommended that fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium bromide/vilanterol trifenatate (Trelegy Ellipta) be listed as cost neutral to future prices of triple therapy agents that include an inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist and long-acting muscarinic antagonist that are listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule as either individual components or as combination inhalers.

This suggests Trelegy Ellipta won't be listed in the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule until another triple combination product for use by patients with COPD comes to market in New Zealand. Such a product may never become available.

This also suggests that Trelegy Ellipta won't be listed in the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule unless its prices is the same as a future triple combination product. What will happen if a future triple combination product has a higher price than Treligy Ellipta

This is utter madness. PHARMAC seems to be of the view that it HTA processes are world class and are worthy of adoption by other HTA agencies. Heaven help us all is this even happens. The agency can't even get the generic names of the components of Treligy Ellipta right (Fluticasone forate)