This is the text extract for Consultation: Various pharmaceuticals, browse documents here.

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29 May 2007 To All Pharmaceutical Suppliers, Medical Groups and Interested Parties

Consultation on a provisional agreement with Pfizer for listing of various pharmaceuticals on the Pharmaceutical Schedule

PHARMAC and Pfizer New Zealand Limited have entered into a provisional agreement for the terms of listing of gabapentin (Neurontin), ziprasidone (Zeldox), exemstane (Aromasin), lignocaine with chlorhexidine and midazolam injection in the Pharmaceutical Schedule. Key aspects of this proposal are as follows: Gabapentin (Neurontin) · The price and subsidy for Neurontin in Section B and in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule would reduce with effect from 1 August 2007 as follows (exmanufacturer, excluding GST):

Brand Neurontin Neurontin Neurontin Neurontin Form Capsule Capsule Capsule Tablet Strength 100 mg 300 mg 400 mg 600 mg Pack size 100 100 100 100 Current price/subsidy $29.46 $88.36 $117.81 $150.00 New price/subsidy $15.67 $47.00 $62.66 $79.79

Pharmaceutical Gabapentin Gabapentin Gabapentin Gabapentin

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Neurontin would continue to be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule subject to the same Special Authority restrictions as apply to other brands of gabapentin. We note that a proposed amendment to the Special Authority for gabapentin is currently the subject of a separate consultation letter dated 23 May 2007. Neurontin dispensed in the community would be subject to a confidential rebate, the effect of which would be to reduce the effective cost of Neurontin to be in line with the price of generic gabapentin (as currently listed). Neurontin would have protection from delisting and subsidy reduction until 1 August 2009.

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Ziprasidone (Zeldox) · Zeldox would be listed in Section B and in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2007 at the following prices and subsidies (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

Pharmaceutical Ziprasidone Ziprasidone Ziprasidone Ziprasidone Brand Zeldox Zeldox Zeldox Zeldox Form Capsule Capsule Capsule Capsule Strength 20 mg 40 mg 60 mg 80 mg Pack Size 60 60 60 60 Price $87.88 $164.78 $247.17 $329.56

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Zeldox would be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule subject to endorsement criteria substantially as set out below:

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Ziprasidone is subsidised for patients suffering from schizophrenia or related psychoses after a trial of an effective dose of risperidone or quetiapine that has been discontinued because of unacceptable side effects or inadequate response, and the prescription is endorsed accordingly.

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Zeldox dispensed in the community would be subject to a confidential rebate. Zeldox would have protection from delisting and subsidy reduction until 1 August 2009.

Exemestane (Aromasin) · Aromasin tablets 25 mg would be listed in Section B and in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2007 at a price and subsidy of $175 per 30 tablets (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST). Aromasin would be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule without the requirement for Special Authority for subsidy. Aromasin would be placed in the same therapeutic subgroup as anastrozole and letrozole. Aromasin tablets 25 mg dispensed in the community would be subject to a rebate which would bring the net effective price of Aromasin to $146.46 per 30 tablets (i.e. the base subsidy currently applying to anastrozole and letrozole as currently listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule).

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Lignocaine with chlorhexidine syringes · Lignocaine gel 2% with chlorhexidine 0.05% 10 mL syringes would be listed in Section B, and would continue to be listed in Part II of Section H, of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 August 2007 at a price and subsidy of $43.26 per 10 syringes (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST).

Midazolam injection in Cytosafe (plastic) ampoules · Midazolam injection in plastic ampoules would be listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 October 2007 at the same subsidy as applies to the Hypnovel brand of midazolam injection (glass ampoules) currently listed in Section B of the Pharmaceutical Schedule. As the price of the Pfizer brand of midazolam injection is higher than the price of Hypnovel, a part charge would apply to the Pfizer brand. Prices and subsidies would be as follows (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

Brand Pfizer Pfizer Form Injection Injection Strength 1 mg per ml, 5 ml 5 mg per ml, 3 ml Pack size 10 5 Price $14.73 $19.64 Subsidy $12.65 $14.00 Midazolam Midazolam

Pharmaceutical

If you wish to make comments for the PHARMAC Board to consider when making its decision on whether to accept this proposal, please forward them to PHARMAC by 5:00 pm, 14 June 2007. All comments submitted by this date will be considered. Yours sincerely

Geraldine MacGibbon Therapeutic Group Manager

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