Pharmac proposes to fund life‑changing treatments for people with cystic fibrosis

Source: PHARMAC

Pharmac is proposing to fund new treatment options for people living with cystic fibrosis with eligible mutations, including young children, from 1 April 2026.

The proposal includes:

widening access to Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) and Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for all people with eligible mutations,
funding a new treatment, Alyftrek (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor).

Around 35 people are expected to benefit in the first year, increasing to 47 people after five years.

“Trikafta has already changed the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders with cystic fibrosis,” says Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin.

“Since we funded it in 2023 for people aged 6 years and above, over 400 people have benefitted. We are now proposing to fund Trikafta for more people so it can be used as soon as clinically appropriate, regardless of age.”

Cystic fibrosis is a long‑term condition that affects around 500 New Zealanders, including children. There is no cure, and people with the condition often have shorter lives.

“Cystic fibrosis starts causing harm very early in life. Funding these medicines for all age groups would help more young children with Cystic fibrosis live longer, healthier lives,” says Martin. “It would also mean children could begin treatment as soon as clinically appropriate, giving families greater peace of mind.”

Currently, Trikafta has Medsafe regulatory approval for use in people aged two years and older, and Alyftrek for children aged six and older.

“Funding these treatments would also benefit the health system,” says Martin. “People wouldn’t need to visit the hospital as often and they’d need less treatment.”

Pharmac is seeking feedback on the proposal from people with cystic fibrosis, their whānau, healthcare professionals, advocacy groups, and other interested people.

“Your feedback will help us make sure the proposal is workable, and improves access to treatment,” says Martin.

Consultation closes at 5pm, Wednesday 11 February 2026. Feedback can be submitted through the online form. All feedback received before the closing date will be considered before a decision is made.

What do these medicines do?

All three medicines are CFTR modulators. CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) proteins play a key role in cystic fibrosis. For people with cystic fibrosis, these proteins do not work as well as they should, causing thick, sticky mucus to build up in the body.

These medicines work by helping the faulty CFTR protein function more normally, which makes the mucus thinner and less sticky. This helps reduce the damage caused by cystic fibrosis and improves overall health.

Trikafta combines three active ingredients (elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivacaftor) to target the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis. It improves lung function, helps people gain weight, and reduces the risk of hospitalisation.
Kalydeco (ivacaftor) works for people with specific mutations by improving how the CFTR protein functions, helping to clear mucus and reduce symptoms.
Alyftrek (vanzacaftor/tezacaftor/deutivacaftor) is a newer CFTR modulator that works in a similar way to Trikafta, helping people with eligible mutations who may not respond to other treatments.

These medicines do not cure cystic fibrosis, but they treat the underlying cause and can help people live longer, healthier lives.