Alternative thyroid drug on way - Medsafe

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Ministry of Health drug regulator Medsafe says it has received an application to approve an alternative to a drug which is making a lot of people ill.

The drug, levothyroxine, helps people with an under-active thyroid gland and is sold in New Zealand in a pharmaceutical branded as Eltroxin, but hundreds of patients have complained that a new formulation first supplied 14 months ago is causing bad side effects.

Health authorities announced in June they were urgently investigating problems with Eltroxin, which is taken by 70,000 New Zealanders.

Medsafe announced today it had received an application to approve another brand of levothyroxine.

Pharmac procurement manager Steffan Crausaz said the agency would be able to give an update on funding on the alternative in the next two weeks.

Medsafe group manager Doctor Stewart Jessamine said new products would still have to meet safety and quality standards but the agency would fast track any assessment of applications.

NZPA