Published: 14 February 2022
Revised 25 August 2002
Revised 22 February 2023
Revised 24 February 2023
Revised:  1 March 2023

COVID-19

Approval status of COVID-19 treatment applications received by Medsafe

A Medsafe approval is one step in the process for accessing a COVID-19 treatment. In addition to Medsafe assessment of applications for regulatory approval, PHARMAC is working with pharmaceutical companies to negotiate supply for New Zealand patients. For more information, please see the website Ministry of Health and PHARMAC websites or see a description of the Medsafe approval process for COVID-19 treatments. More information about medicine applications and approvals can also be found using our Product/Application Search.

Dexmethsone
Dexamethasone 0.3 mg tablet
Healthcare Logistics


Status
Extension of indications to include treatment of severe COVID-19 approved under section 24 of the Medicines Act 1981 on 16 November 2020.

Approved indication
Dexamethasone is indicated in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adult and adolescent patients (aged 12 years and older with body weight at least 40 kg) who require supplemental oxygen therapy.

Documents

Ronapreve
Casirivimab/imdevimab 120 mg/mL solution for injection
Roche Products (NZ) Ltd


Status
Approved under section 20 of the Medicines Act on 21 December 2021

Approved indications

Treatment
Ronapreve is indicated for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and older and weighing at least 40 kg) who do not require supplemental oxygen for COVID-19 and who are at increased risk of progressing to severe COVID-19.

Post-exposure prophylaxis
Ronapreve is indicated for the prevention of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and older and weighing at least 40 kg) who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 AND who either:

  • have a medical condition making them unlikely to respond to or be protected by vaccination, or
  • are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Ronapreve is not intended to be used as a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19.

Documents

Veklury
Remdesivir 100 mg powder for injection
Gilead Sciences (NZ)


Approval pathway
Abbreviated new medicine application

Status
The initial assessment of this application has been completed and Medsafe is waiting to receive additional information from the sponsor.

Proposed indication
Veklury is indicated for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults and adolescents (aged 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kg) with pneumonia, requiring supplemental oxygen.

Paxlovid
NIrmatrelvir 150 mg film coated tablet + ritonavir 100 mg film coated tablet
Pfizer New Zealand Limited


Approval pathway
Rolling new medicine application

Status
Approved under section 23 of the Medicines Act with conditions on 2 March 2022.

Approved indications
Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults 18 years of age and older, who do not require initiation of supplemental oxygen due to COVID-19 and are at increased risk of progression to hospitalisation or death.

Documents

Lagevrio
Molnupiravir 200 mg capsule
Merck Sharp & Dohme (New Zealand) Limited


Approval pathway
Abbreviated New Medicines Application

Status
Approved under section 23 of the Medicines Act with conditions on 14 April 2022

Approved indications
Lagevrio is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults aged 18 years and older who are at increased risk of progressing to severe COVID-19, hospitalisation or death.

Documents

Actemra
Tocilizumab 20 mg/mL concentrate for infusion
Roche Products (NZ) Ltd  

 

Approval pathway
Changed Medicine Notification Status Application received 16 March 2022, initial evaluation underway.

Proposed indications
Actemra is indicated for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalised adults who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation.  

Evusheld
Tixagevimab 100 mg/mL + cilgavimab 100 mg/mL solution for injection
AstraZeneca


Approval pathway
Abbreviated new medicine application

Status
Provisional approval granted under section 23 of the Medicines Act with conditions on 29 July 2022.

Approved indication
EVUSHELD is indicated for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kg,

  • Who have moderate to severe immune compromise due to a medical condition or receipt of immunosuppressive medications or treatments that make it likely that they will not mount an adequate immune response to COVID‐19 vaccination, or
  • For whom vaccination with any approved COVID‐19 vaccine is not recommended due to a history of severe adverse reaction (e.g., severe allergic reaction) to a COVID‐19 vaccine(s) and/or COVID‐19 vaccine component(s).

Documents

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