New Zealand's Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac) has confirmed funding for a fifth treatment for COVID-19.

Baricitinib, will be used for moderate to severe cases of COVID-19, with 500 courses expected to arrive in New Zealand in the next few weeks.

Baricitinib, an oral tablet, is not currently approved by NZ's Medsafe for treating COVID-19; however, Pharmac's Chief Executive, Sarah Fitt, notes that "clinical trials have shown baricitinib can help hospitalised COVID-19 patients, reducing severity of symptoms and time in hospital, and increasing survival".