Latest News

Are you on an Infusion Treatment?

May 30, 2024 | Advocacy, Treatments

At MSNZ we would like to understand more about patient experiences with infusion treatments. The first line Disease Modifying Treatment (DMT) options we have been successful in advocating for in NZ are considered some of the best in the world. […]


World Health Organisation adds three Disease Modifying Therapies for MS onto Essential Medicine List

July 27, 2023 | Treatments

Image: myriam-zilles-unsplash Today, the World Health Organisation (WHO) added three Disease Modifying Treatments (DMTs) for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) onto its Essential Medicines List for the first time. Addressing the global MS movement, Prof Mai Sharawy, Chair of the Board of […]


Addressing the unmet need

September 14, 2022 | Advocacy, Progressive, Treatments

Currently, only approximately 1900 of the over 4130 New Zealanders diagnosed with MS are able to access funded Disease Modifying Therapies (DMTs). In particular, those with progressive forms of MS, Secondary (SPMS) and Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), have extremely limited […]


Special Authority Criteria Amendment for DMTs

May 26, 2021 | Advocacy

Multiple Sclerosis NZ received several reports from concerned patients regarding the ambiguity of the Special Authority Criteria for DMTs. With the support of Dr John Mottershead, Pharmac were approached for clarification. Concern centred around whether bilateral aids qualify for use […]


MS Treatments

August 18, 2017

The below disease modifying treatments (DMT’s) are available for the treatment of MS in New Zealand.   First line treatments for Relapsing Remitting MS (funded) Ocrevus® (Ocrelizumab) Gilenya® (Fingolimod) Aubagio® (teriflunomide) Tecfidera® (Dimethyl fumarate) Tysabri® (Natalizumab)   Second line treatments for […]