NEW ZEALAND TO SUBSIDIZE FUZEON FOR ADVANCED HIV

New Zealand's Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) will fund a new HIV drug starting Sept. 1.

Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) is one of the newest types of drug for treating people with advanced-stage HIV/AIDS. It is the first in a class of HIV medicines known as fusion inhibitors. While other HIV medicines treat the virus once it has invaded cells, Fuzeon blocks the virus from entering cells. The drug is most useful in combination with other HIV medicines, especially for people whose disease has become resistant to some drugs.

PHARMAC also subsidizes 12 other HIV drugs and one drug combination. New Zealand spends approximately $9 million per year providing people with HIV drugs.

Fuzeon is manufactured by Roche and Trimeris.