Published: 23 December 2025
Committees
Minutes for the 75th meeting of the Medicines Classification Committee
held via email on 19 November 2025.
- Welcome
- Apologies
- Confirmation of the minutes of the 74th meeting held on 23 July 2025
- Declaration of conflicts of interest
- Submissions for reclassification
- New Chemical Entities
- Harmonisation of New Zealand and Australian schedule
- Agenda items for the next meeting
- General business
- Date of the next meeting
Present
Alison Cossar (Chair)
Dr Tim Hanlon
Dr Ben Hudson
Dr Marcia Walker
Megan Peters
Bronwen Shepherd
Holly Wilson (Secretariat)
In attendance from Medsafe
Matthew Spencer (Manager, Product Regulation)
1. Welcome
The Secretariat opened the 75th Medicines Classification Committee meeting via email on 14 November 2025.
2. Apologies
No apologies were received for this meeting.
3. Confirmation of the minutes of the 74th meeting held on 23 July 2025
The minutes of the 74th meeting were accepted as a true and accurate record. The minutes had been signed digitally prior to this meeting.
4. Declaration of conflicts of interest
There were no new conflicts of interest declared from members of the 75th meeting which would preclude their participation.
5. Matters arising
5.1 Objections to recommendations made at the 74th meeting
The deadline for intentions to object to a recommendation made at the 74th MCC meeting, together with a statement of the grounds on which the objection would be made, was 13 November 2025. Two objections were received regarding agenda item 5.4 Lithium, and two were received regarding agenda item 5.5 Vitamin D. Medsafe is still considering these objections.
6. New medicines for classification
The following new chemical entities are submitted to the Committee for classification.
6.1 Relatlimab
Relatlimab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to and inhibits lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) receptors. In combination with nivolumab, it is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
Recommendation
The MCC recommended that relatlimab be added to the New Zealand Medicines Schedule as a prescription medicine.
6.2 Belantamab mafodotin
Belantamab mafodotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that contains belantamab, an afucosylated humanised monoclonal IgG1k antibody specific for B cell maturation antigen. Belantamab mafodotin is indicated for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma.
Recommendation
The MCC recommended that belantamab mafodotin be added to the New Zealand Medicines Schedule as a prescription medicine.
7. Harmonisation of the New Zealand and Australian schedules
Recent scheduling changes made to the Poisons Standard in Australia are to be considered by the Medicines Classification Committee for their implementation in New Zealand.
Public consultation is an important part of the Medicines Classification Committee process, stakeholders are welcome to provide comments on all agenda items including those being considered for harmonisation.
The Medsafe Medicines Classification Committee - Public Consultation on Agenda Items webpage provides information on how to comment on agenda items.
There were no harmonisation matters to be discussed at the 75th Medicines Classification Committee meeting.
8. Agenda items for the next meeting
The agenda items for the 76th Medicines Classification Committee meeting are yet to be determined.
9. General business
Medsafe provided an update on the Medicines Amendment Bill 2025 (the Bill). The Bill passed its third reading on 11 November 2025. The Bill includes an update to the terms of membership for the Medicines Classification Committee. Medsafe is working on preparing for these changes, including making recruitment plans for additional Committee members.
10. Date of the next meeting
The date of the 76th MCC meeting is yet to be determined.
The Secretariat closed the meeting at 5pm on 19 November 2025.
This document was prepared and written by Holly Wilson as the Medicines Classification Committee Secretariat
