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| Sufferers may finally get some relief |
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This morning Pharmac have sent out a consultation paper proposing that from 1 August 2009 they will fund Humira for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Psoriatic Arthritis (PA) and Crohn's Disease.Humira is the commercial name for an anti-TNF treatment known as Adalimumab. This is an important drug in treating the above long-term conditions. Arthritis New Zealand has been lobbying Pharmac and the government for changes to the current system, which just funds this drug for Rheumatoid Arthritis.Arthritis New Zealand welcomes this new funding proposition, because if it goes ahead, it will be a huge relief for the people in the community with these diseases who have been denied access to the drugs that have a proven benefit. The criteria for funding of these drugs are that they will be a "last line treatment". This means that the drug is only available with a referral from a Rheumatologist. The consultation document is out now and feedback is requested to Pharmac by 29th May 2009. Arthritis New Zealand will be responding over the next week. Arthritis New Zealand is still lobbying for a second biologic option to be funded when people fail on one. Evidence supports that most people will have some benefit from this biologic, but for those people who don't, the evidence is equally good that they might have success on a second biologic. If you want to know more, click here for the consultation document on the Pharmac website. ENDS For further information contact: Ann-Marie Jones DDI 04 472 5640 |