Subcutaneous Ocrelizumab
Following Pharmac’s announcement that it will fund subcutaneous ocrelizumab for people with multiple sclerosis, MSNZ Vice-President and MS Taranaki President Graham Walker appeared on Breakfast TV to discuss what this decision means for him and the MS community. During the segment, the Medical Director of Roche New Zealand highlighted a key system benefit of the […]
Ocrelizumab Subcut – Overcoming Barriers to Access – Pharmac Opens Consultation for Funding
After strongly advocating to Pharmac since July 2024, Multiple Sclerosis NZ welcomes the announcement today that Pharmac is opening public consultation for the funding of subcutaneous Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus). This funding comes as part of a multi-medicine deal between Pharmac and Roche. Ocrevus Subcutaneous (SC) is delivered by injection under the skin rather than by intravenous […]
Tolebrutinib – A New Era of MS Treatments Targeting Progression in Non-Relapsing MS
Tolebrutinib is the first and only disease modifying therapy (DMT) showing positive signs of slowing progression in non-relapsing secondary progressive MS (SPMS). While current DMTs focus on dampening the inflammatory aspects of MS, this significant breakthrough heralds a potential new era of therapies which look to target the underlying progression in MS. Currently in NZ, […]
Wellness Practices and Complimentary Therapies
Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash Symptom management is an important component of living well with MS. Wellness practices or complementary therapies, can often reduce life limiting symptoms such as pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness and tightening. Certain therapies might help people feel more in control of their MS or make them feel better overall, reducing […]
1News Report – Medsafe Approves 10 Minute Ocrevus Injection
Watch Graham Walker, person with MS, President of MS Taranaki and Co-Vice President of MSNZ discuss the life-changing news that Medsafe has approved the 10 minute Ocrevus injection, accompanied with comments from Amanda Rose, MSNZ National Manager on 1News, 29th April 2025. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YQitPAsR5A We encourage those with lived experience to provide their stories […]
Medsafe Approves 10 Minute Ocrevus Injection; TVNZ Breakfast Interview with Graham Walker
Watch Graham Walker, President of MS Taranaki and Co Vice-President of MSNZ, discuss the newly approved 10 minute Ocrevus injection with Jenny-May on TVNZ’s Breakfast show. Click here: https://youtu.be/powx9Ukm3Dw We encourage those with lived experience to provide their stories to us of barriers they experience accessing treatment. These will help to strengthen our message to Pharmac around […]
Pharmax Sativex
In December 2023, Pharmac proposed to decline funding for inactive applications, this included an application to fund Sativex for MS spasticity. MSNZ has written to the Pharmac Board to ask that this application remain live and we be permitted to present more evidence regarding the patient’s need. Sativex is currently unfunded and costs approximately $300 […]
Media Release: “Relief” over Pharmac Decision to Fund First-Ever Treatment for Debilitating Form of Multiple Sclerosis
A seven year battle on behalf of hundreds of people living with the most debilitating form of Multiple Sclerosis has been won – with Pharmac agreeing to fund Aotearoa New Zealand’s first ever treatment for the disease variant from October 1st. Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand (MSNZ) says the decision to fund Ocrelizumab is hugely positive […]
MS in the News: Funded treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac has started a consultation today for widening access for two treatments; ocrelizumab (branded as Ocrevus) as the first funded treatment for primary progressive multiple sclerosis, and emicizumab (branded as Hemlibra) for the treatment of all people with severe haemophilia A. “We understand people living with these conditions are currently experiencing […]
Addressing the unmet need
Currently, only approximately 1900 of the over 4130 New Zealanders diagnosed with MS are able to access funded Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs). In particular, those with progressive forms of MS, Secondary (SPMS) and Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), have extremely limited access options. While not explicit in the DMT criteria wording, changes advocated for by MSNZ […]