New treatment options for thousands of Kiwis

Published: 2:42PM Friday October 10, 2014 Source: ONE News

Source: ONE News

An estimated 300,000 New Zealanders stand to benefit from new access to treatments or expanded treatment options as a result of a deal between a pharmaceutical company and Pharmac.

The deal jointly announced by Pharmac and Novartis Pharmaceuticals this afternoon means New Zealanders will gain new access to the highest number of medicines and targeted treatment areas ever agreed in a single arrangement.

The deal covers new access to nine treatments for diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. A further six products provide an expanded range of treatment options.

Novartis' Country Group Manager, New Zealand, Tim Jones, says the treatments will give patients more options and in some cases make a vital difference to managing very serious conditions.

Access to Gilenya for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis will provide an oral treatment for the first time. It is an alternative treatment option for those who currently have injections to manage or prevent potentially crippling attacks that can leave them hospitalised or incapacitated for several days.

Patients with COPD, now affecting 200,000 New Zealanders, will gain extra treatment options with high efficacy.

Alzheimer's patients, for whom there are currently very few treatments, will be able to access an additional patch treatment option.

A treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia, Tasigna, will provide access to the latest generation of medicines transforming treatment of the disease.

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New treatment options for thousands of Kiwis