LAMA & LAMA/LABA for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Published on 02 Jul 2018
Last Updated on 02 Jul 2018

Guidance Recommendations

The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:

• Umeclidinium 62.5mcg inhalation powder for the:

  • Maintenance treatment of patients diagnosed by spirometry with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Group B or C) who have breathlessness.

• Umeclidinium/vilanterol 62.5/25mcg inhalation powder for the:

  • Maintenance treatment of patients diagnosed by spirometry with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Group B or C) who have frequent exacerbations (at least 2 per year or at least 1 leading to hospitalisation per year) and/or persistent breathlessness despite treatment with LAMA monotherapy.

  • Maintenance treatment of patients diagnosed by spirometry with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Group D) with persistent symptoms and frequent exacerbations.

Subsidy status

Umeclidinium 62.5mcg inhalation powder and umeclidinium/vilanterol 62.5/25mcg inhalation powder are recommended for inclusion on the MOH Standard Drug List (SDL) for the abovementioned indications. SDL subsidies do not apply to the following:

• Other LAMAs (glycopyrronium, tiotropium or aclidinium)

• Other LAMA/LABAs (indacaterol/glycopyrronium, tiotropium/olodaterol or aclidinium/formoterol)

LAMA & LAMA-LABA for COPD (2 Jul 2018) [PDF, 627 KB]