Arthritis medicine to be fully funded

A new subsidised treatment for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis will be available in the New Year following a decision by government drug-funding agency Pharmac.

The new generation arthritis treatment adalimumab (Humira), one of the TNF alpha inhibitor drugs, will be fully funded from January 1.

Pharmac chief executive Wayne McNee said TNF alpha inhibitors can make a significant difference to the quality of life for people with arthritis.

"For some people with rheumatoid arthritis this can have enormous benefits in enabling them to become more active again," Mr McNee said.

Pharmac estimated that initially a small number of patients would be prescribed adalimumab, but that the group would grow to nearly 1000 people a year after five years.