95bFM Pharmac announces new funding for respiratory medication, Palivizumab
8 January, 2025
Interview by Athena Li-Watts, adapted by Marlo Schorr-Kon
Pharmac has recently announced that it will bring back funding for the respiratory medication, Palivizumab, beginning on the 1st of January, 2025, following the treatment not maintaining funding since October 2023.
Palivizumab prevents respiratory syncytial virus, otherwise referred to as RSV, in children and babies.
On top of this, the pharmaceutical company will also be funding a new triple inhaler, which people who suffer from severe chronic lung disease will be eligible for.
University of Otago Professor and Medical Director at the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation New Zealand, Bob Hancox, told 95bFM’S The Wire that this inhaler is “an alternative” as there is already a triple inhaler made by a different company that is funded in New Zealand.
“This new inhaler is probably equivalent to that one.”
The triple inhaler combines medicines from other inhalers into one, and there are “huge advantages in having all the medicines packed into one inhaler,” because it doesn't require owning multiple inhalers.
Palivizumab is the only respiratory medication available in New Zealand, so Hancox says more funding is vital.
“There is another medication available overseas which is similar but is actually longer acting. However, it is not funded and not available in New Zealand at the moment I don't believe.”
RSV is a viral illness that is particularly nasty in young children, who get a respiratory infection called bronchiolitis.
It is particularly bad for young babies with other health problems.
Hancox says the new medication is primarily used during RSV season which is a very vulnerable period for babies at risk of getting infected.
“[The new medication is] given once a month and then the protection lasts for a month and it is quite effective at preventing RSV.”
Despite Hancox being pleased regarding bringing back funding for Palivizumab as well as funding for the new inhaler, he says more can still be done.
“It should also be said that overseas the access to Palivizumab is going to be wider, and in fact, there are now newer treatments which last a bit longer than Palivizumab, so they are better, but we do not have access to those yet.”
