NEW ZEALAND TO INCREASE BIOPOLAR TREATMENT OPTIONS

The Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC) of New Zealand has announced it will expand access to two brands of the epilepsy drug lamotrigine, Mogine and Arrow-Lamotrigine, for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

"Providing access to lamotrigine for the treatment of bipolar disorder will give more choice for people who cannot take, or whose condition isn't adequately controlled, on other drugs." PHARMAC's Medical Director Peter Moodie said. Lamotrigine adds to a range of treatments already funded for bipolar disorder.

The decision comes as a result of agreements with Douglas Pharmaceuticals, which makes Mogine, and Arrow Pharmaceuticals, which makes Arrow-Lamotrigine, for producing generic lamotrigine. The listed product, GlaxoSmithKline's Lamictal, will continue to be funded for people with epilepsy, while generic lamotrigine will be funded both for epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

New Zealand's drug regulatory agency, Medsafe, considers the generic brands of lamotrigine to have the same clinical effectiveness as the brand drug.