Pharmac proposes wider access to gout medicine febuxostat

Pharmac is seeking public feedback on a proposal to expand access to the urate-lowering medicine febuxostat for gout patients in New Zealand. Currently, patients must trial two other medications, allopurinol and probenecid, before becoming eligible for funded febuxostat.

The proposal aims to remove the requirement to trial probenecid, allowing clinicians and patients to choose between febuxostat or probenecid as second-line treatments. Febuxostat is noted for being easier to dose and requiring only once-daily administration. Pharmac estimates that these changes could provide an additional 5,500 to 7,300 people with access to the medicine annually.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour expressed support for the initiative, noting that approximately 6% of adult New Zealanders are affected by gout. If approved, the expanded funding for febuxostat is expected to begin on February 1, 2027. Consultation remains open until midnight on September 30.