Medsafe Rule of 2 Verification Pathway

The Medsafe Rule of Two verification pathway is a new, streamlined process for approving medicines in New Zealand. It allows for faster access to medicines that have already been approved by two trusted overseas regulators.

The proposed Verification Pathway aims to accelerate market access for certain medicines by enabling Medsafe approval within 30 days, provided they’ve already been approved in two recognised overseas jurisdictions.

  • Recognised countries are expected to include Australia, USA, Canada, UK, EU, Singapore, and Switzerland.
  • The dossier must closely match that approved overseas.
  • For generics and biosimilars, the overseas reference product must be
    identical to one approved for NZ.
  • Full eligibility and process requirements will be set out in secondary legislation.

This initiative is part of the Medicines Amendment Bill, now open for public consultation until 19 May 2025.

The Bill also proposes expanded prescriber access to unapproved medicines in NZ.

For more information and updates on the eligibility and procedural details, stay tuned for the secondary legislation as the regulatory framework evolves.

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