Improved Access To Diabetes Medicine

People With Type 2 Diabetes To Have Improved Access To Oral Diabetes Medicine Actos

SYDNEY, March 30 /Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --

Changes to Special Authority criteria extend the patient group eligible for subsidy and reduce wait for treatment.

(Auckland, New Zealand)- Eli Lilly New Zealand announced today that it had reached an agreement with Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand (PHARMAC) regarding changes to the special authority criteria for the diabetes medicine, Actos.

A key improvement is that general practitioners can now write the initial prescription for Actos, under Special Authority. Previously only specialists (of which there are limited numbers) were able to initiate a patient on ACTOS, leading to long waits for many people to secure funding approval for the medicine.

"This is a key change that will significantly improve patients' ability to be quickly assessed and, if appropriate, approved for funded Actos treatment by a GP" said Wei Li Shao, General Manager of Eli Lilly New Zealand.

Shao said the company was pleased to work closely with PHARMAC to deliver the funding changes. "Lilly has a proud heritage in innovation in diabetes care and these amendments allow much broader access to an important diabetes treatment."

Access to Actos for patients taking a combination of diabetes medications is also expanded under the changes. Where previously an HbA1c value (which reflects the average blood glucose level over several months) of 8 per cent or more was required to qualify for funding, this has been reduced to 7.5 per cent.

In addition to allowing GPs to initiate treatment, the rules around renewing treatment have been relaxed. Now, if the treating GP feels a patient is benefiting from ACTOS, he or she can choose to continue to prescribe this treatment without the need for tests showing HbA1c values greater than 8 per cent.

Actos is a tablet, taken once daily, that lowers blood glucose levels. Actos works by decreasing insulin resistance, an important underlying defect in type 2 diabetes. Treatment with Actos results in lower blood glucose concentrations, lower insulin levels and lower HbA1c values.

About Actos (pioglitazone):
Pioglitazone is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus
inadequately controlled by diet. Pioglitazone is effective as a single agent
and may also be used in combination with sulfonylureas, metformin or insulin
when diet plus the single agent does not result in adequate glycaemic control.
It is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity or allergy to
Pioglitazone or any of its excipients. Approved Product Information is
available on request.

Pioglitazone received its first regulatory approval in July 1999 in the United States. Pioglitazone was approved by Medsafe in June 2002. Pioglitazone is reimbursed for use in dual combination with metformin or a sulfonylurea, when either metformin or sulfonylurea cannot be used due to a contraindication or intolerance. It is also reimbursed for use in combination with insulin.

Precautions: Not for treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, NYHA Class III or IV cardiac status or clinical evidence of active liver disease or increased transaminase levels (ALT > 2.5 times the upper limit of normal). A reduction in the dose of concomitant insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents may be necessary to prevent hypoglycaemia, dose reduction may be required when co-administered with CYP2C8 inhibitors, an increased dose may be required when co-administered with CYC2C8 inducers. May result in resumption of ovulation and risk of pregnancy; use with caution in patients with oedema; can cause fluid retention when used alone or in combination with other anti-diabetic agents and may lead to or exacerbate heart failure; dose related weight gain may occur.

Adverse Reactions: Very common (>10%): Oedema, hypoglycaemia in combination with anti-diabetic agents. Common (>1% and <10%): Cardiac failure, upper respiratory tract infection, headache, sinusitis, myalgia, back pain, urinary tract infection, pharyngitis, tooth disorder, fatigue, accidental injury, leg cramps, abnormal vision. Rare (<0.1%): macular oedema.

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