Media release: PHARMAC consulting on funding for Spinal Muscular Atrophy treatment Evrysdi®

Roche Pharmaceuticals has reached a provisional agreement with PHARMAC to fund Evrysdi®  (risdiplam)  for people aged 18 years and under with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Evrysdi is the first and only at-home administered treatment for patients living with SMA, and has proven efficacy in babies, children, and adults1 with more than 7,000 patients treated to date worldwide.

Alex Muelhaupt, General Manager of Roche New Zealand, says the company moved quickly and decisively to enable the consultation on the proposal to improve access for Kiwis with SMA.

“We're pleased patients, families and healthcare professionals may now have treatment choice for SMA, especially for those patients who find it hard to travel to hospitals or prefer to have an oral, at-home solution."

“I want to acknowledge the work done by patient advocates to help generate awareness around SMA and the need for the funding of novel medicines like Evrysdi."

“Roche looks forward to ongoing collaboration with the SMA community to improve the lives of SMA patients,” he said.

Notes to editors

To interview Alex Muelhaupt, please contact:
Sarah McMahon, Corporate Engagement Partner, Roche
 +64 21 796 225

Evrysdi Consumer Panel

Evrysdi® (risdiplam), 750 microgram/mL powder for oral solution, is a Prescription Medicine used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in patients aged 2 months and older.

Ask your doctor if Evrysdi is right for you. Use only as directed. If symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your healthcare professional. For more information about Evrysdi:

• talk to your healthcare professional; or

• visit medsafe.govt.nz for Evrysdi Consumer Medicine Information; or

 • visit roche.co.nz or call Roche on 0800 276 243

Evrysdi has risks and benefits.

Possible common side effects include: diarrhoea; rash. Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Do not use Evrysdi if: you have had an allergic reaction to Evrysdi or any of its ingredients.

Tell your doctor if: you have any other medical conditions; take any medicines for any other condition; are female and pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed; are male and planning to donate sperm or have children; are older than 60 years or if your baby is younger than 2 months; or you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop

Medsafe CMI

About Roche

For more than 120 years, Roche has been committed to improving lives. Headquartered in Basel,   Switzerland, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and  make a sustainable contribution to society. We have one purpose: to do now what patients need next.

We have had a presence in New Zealand since 1973 and operate across two key businesses, Roche  Pharmaceuticals and Roche Diagnostics. The ultimate aim of our almost 100 employees across the country is to enable New Zealand patients to gain access to our medicines and diagnostic tests in order  to detect illnesses early, and to treat them with life-saving

New Zealand plays an important role in the global research and development (R&D) network for Roche.  In fact, Roche is the largest investor in clinical trials in New Zealand, investing more than $20 million  over more than 20 years in clinical trials across a range of disease areas.  No  matter which part of the business we work, our team understands that life changing discoveries will only matter if the right medicines get to the right patients.

Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited, Auckland. Phone 0800 656 464. www.roche.co.nz. All trademarks mentioned herein are protected by law. M-NZ-00000624 / TAPS MR8864/ JAN2022.