Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

New drug acquired by Pharmac

Updated at 3:22 pm on 1 August 2009

The State drug-buying agency Pharmac says those with painful and disabling inflammatory conditions will have funded access to an expensive new drug treatment from 1 August.

Those with Crohn's Disease and inflammatory forms of arthritis say they've been waiting years for the treatment.

Adalimumab, with the trade name Humira, has been funded for 600 people with rheumatoid arthritis.

From 1 August, those with Crohn's Disease, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis may have the drug free if they do not respond to other treatments.

Pharmac says the drug costs $20,000 per patient per year.

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