Pharmac is funding two more HIV drugs, as the virus which can lead to AIDS becomes increasingly difficult to treat.
Darunavir and etravirine will join 17 other antiretroviral drugs on the market from 1 November.
Pharmac says antiretroviral drugs have reduced HIV from a fatal disease to a chronic one, but new treatment options are needed to combat its resistance as it continually changes.
The State drug agency spent almost $18 million on HIV drugs In the year to June. The two new drugs will cost $1.6 million over the next five years.
Pharmac says 1600 people in New Zealand have HIV.
