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Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Cancer patients welcome Pharmac boost
By Rachel Helyer Donaldson of RNZ Cancer specialists and patients with advanced melanoma have welcomed the news that three potentially life-saving skin cancer medicines are to be funded from 1 June. The state drug-buying agency Pharmac announced on Friday it would fund more medicines for people with late stage skin cancer (stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma). The decision includes widening access to pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda), and funding dabrafenib, (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), for the first time. Pharmac director pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon said the move would help 285 people by preventing their cancer from spreading or coming back. Melanoma NZ trustee and oncologist Dr Rosalie Stephens said the drugs were "both life-saving and life extending" and the decision was "welcome news". "I think this news will come as a huge relief because New Zealanders with melanoma are well-informed. They know the impact that these medicines are having overseas and stakeholders have been asking for this decision for some time, so psychologically I think there will be a huge degree of relief. "And also psychosocially, more broadly, as it will have a big impact on people's financial status because many New Zealanders have been paying out of pocket for these important medicines." Aucklander Fin Bergin, who was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in September 2024, agreed the funding would make a huge difference. After two surgeries, the 28-year-old had been paying for the immunotherapy medicine combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, through a combination of personal savings, parental and family support, and donations through a Givealittle page. "This [funded treatment] will... put me at ease, because the biggest stress since my diagnosis has been money related." Stephens said it had been a "10-year progress" to get some of the medicines funded, and cancer specialists had felt "anxious about the gap, particularly when we compare ourselves to similar health systems, notably Australia and the UK". But she added engagement with Pharmac over the past year had left her feeling "much more positive". "We've had really constructive engagement, I would say. So yes, there's been the frustration. But we have really seen improvements and the transparency of the process, and we're pleased for that and we hope that continues." Minister of Health Simeon Brown said National campaigned on boosting Pharmac funding to cover 13 additional cancer treatments and this week's announcement meant that, come 1 June, this would be achieved.
Otago Daily Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
New cancer drugs get Pharmac boost
By Rachel Helyer Donaldson of RNZ Cancer specialists and patients with advanced melanoma have welcomed the news that three potentially life-saving skin cancer medicines are to be funded from 1 June. The state drug-buying agency Pharmac announced on Friday it would fund more medicines for people with late stage skin cancer (stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma). The decision includes widening access to pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda), and funding dabrafenib, (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), for the first time. Pharmac director pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon said the move would help 285 people by preventing their cancer from spreading or coming back. Melanoma NZ trustee and oncologist Dr Rosalie Stephens said the drugs were "both life-saving and life extending" and the decision was "welcome news". "I think this news will come as a huge relief because New Zealanders with melanoma are well-informed. They know the impact that these medicines are having overseas and stakeholders have been asking for this decision for some time, so psychologically I think there will be a huge degree of relief. "And also psychosocially, more broadly, as it will have a big impact on people's financial status because many New Zealanders have been paying out of pocket for these important medicines." Aucklander Fin Bergin, who was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma in September 2024, agreed the funding would make a huge difference. After two surgeries, the 28-year-old had been paying for the immunotherapy medicine combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, through a combination of personal savings, parental and family support, and donations through a Givealittle page. "This [funded treatment] will... put me at ease, because the biggest stress since my diagnosis has been money related." Stephens said it had been a "10-year progress" to get some of the medicines funded, and cancer specialists had felt "anxious about the gap, particularly when we compare ourselves to similar health systems, notably Australia and the UK". But she added engagement with Pharmac over the past year had left her feeling "much more positive". "We've had really constructive engagement, I would say. So yes, there's been the frustration. But we have really seen improvements and the transparency of the process, and we're pleased for that and we hope that continues." Minister of Health Simeon Brown said National campaigned on boosting Pharmac funding to cover 13 additional cancer treatments and this week's announcement meant that, come 1 June, this would be achieved.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Good News For Many Advanced Melanoma Patients: Pharmac Drug Funding Announcement Confirms Better Treatment Options
Press Release – Melanoma New Zealand Melanoma New Zealand welcomes today's news from Pharmac for increased and new access to funded medicines because it's long-awaited good news for many New Zealand patients with advanced melanoma. It means many New Zealand patients with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma will now have a much-needed lifeline in their fight against this insidious disease with free access to potentially life-saving and life-extending treatment options. 'Melanoma New Zealand has been engaging with Pharmac advocating for increased funding for treatments for melanoma patients and providing technical expertise. Today's announcement is long overdue, and we are delighted about the difference this will make for patients,' says Andrea Newland, Melanoma New Zealand Chief Executive. For a long time melanoma patients in New Zealand have had less access to funded treatment options such as immunotherapies and targeted therapies than patients in many other countries including Australia. 'Access to these lifesaving and life-extending melanoma treatments helps bring New Zealand further in line with international standards of care. It empowers melanoma healthcare specialists (and their patients) with a broader range of treatment options, and the ability to provide tailored care,' says Newland. Specifically, the major steps forward are: Unless 'inoperable' (unresectable), patients with stage 3B-D have been self-funding or relying on insurance for access to immunotherapy drug Keytruda. Funded Keytruda is now an option for these patients from 1 June 2025. Additionally, immunotherapy drug Keytruda can be offered to these patients and stage 4 patients before surgery (it can help to shrink tumours), and/or after surgery (reducing the likelihood of the melanoma recurring). BRAF and MEK inhibitor drugs Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekenist (trametinib) are now available to stage 3B-D and stage 4 patients with BRAF mutant melanoma. This offers another option for targeted treatment for these patients, (who may or may not be undergoing surgery as well). Finlay (Fin) Bergin is someone who could benefit directly. The 28-year-old Auckland man was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma on 10 September 2024 and after two surgeries has been paying for the immunotherapy medicine combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, through a combination of personal savings (Fin's had some of his KiwiSaver released), parental and family support, and generous donations through a givealittle page set up by his brother. Fin says, 'This [funded treatment] will make a huge difference and put me at ease, because the biggest stress since my diagnosis has been money related.' Melanoma New Zealand is delighted for the many melanoma patients who will benefit from this increased access to funded melanoma medicines, but we also acknowledge those patients for whom this decision may come too late, or who are not eligible or suitable for these treatments. This funding is a significant step forward. There is more work to be done, and Melanoma New Zealand will continue to advocate for further improvements for all those impacted by melanoma.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Good News For Many Advanced Melanoma Patients: Pharmac Drug Funding Announcement Confirms Better Treatment Options
Press Release – Melanoma New Zealand Many New Zealand patients with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma will now have a much-needed lifeline in their fight against this insidious disease with free access to potentially life-saving and life-extending treatment options. Melanoma New Zealand welcomes today's news from Pharmac for increased and new access to funded medicines because it's long-awaited good news for many New Zealand patients with advanced melanoma. It means many New Zealand patients with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma will now have a much-needed lifeline in their fight against this insidious disease with free access to potentially life-saving and life-extending treatment options. 'Melanoma New Zealand has been engaging with Pharmac advocating for increased funding for treatments for melanoma patients and providing technical expertise. Today's announcement is long overdue, and we are delighted about the difference this will make for patients,' says Andrea Newland, Melanoma New Zealand Chief Executive. For a long time melanoma patients in New Zealand have had less access to funded treatment options such as immunotherapies and targeted therapies than patients in many other countries including Australia. 'Access to these lifesaving and life-extending melanoma treatments helps bring New Zealand further in line with international standards of care. It empowers melanoma healthcare specialists (and their patients) with a broader range of treatment options, and the ability to provide tailored care,' says Newland. Specifically, the major steps forward are: Unless 'inoperable' (unresectable), patients with stage 3B-D have been self-funding or relying on insurance for access to immunotherapy drug Keytruda. Funded Keytruda is now an option for these patients from 1 June 2025. Additionally, immunotherapy drug Keytruda can be offered to these patients and stage 4 patients before surgery (it can help to shrink tumours), and/or after surgery (reducing the likelihood of the melanoma recurring). BRAF and MEK inhibitor drugs Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekenist (trametinib) are now available to stage 3B-D and stage 4 patients with BRAF mutant melanoma. This offers another option for targeted treatment for these patients, (who may or may not be undergoing surgery as well). Finlay (Fin) Bergin is someone who could benefit directly. The 28-year-old Auckland man was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma on 10 September 2024 and after two surgeries has been paying for the immunotherapy medicine combination of dabrafenib and trametinib, through a combination of personal savings (Fin's had some of his KiwiSaver released), parental and family support, and generous donations through a givealittle page set up by his brother. Fin says, 'This [funded treatment] will make a huge difference and put me at ease, because the biggest stress since my diagnosis has been money related.' Melanoma New Zealand is delighted for the many melanoma patients who will benefit from this increased access to funded melanoma medicines, but we also acknowledge those patients for whom this decision may come too late, or who are not eligible or suitable for these treatments. This funding is a significant step forward. There is more work to be done, and Melanoma New Zealand will continue to advocate for further improvements for all those impacted by melanoma.
Scoop
09-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Decision To Increase Medicines Access
Press Release – New Zealand Government About 285 people with melanoma will benefit from these medicines, funded for people with stage 3B to 4 skin cancers, in the first year of funding, Mr Seymour says. Associate Minister of Health Hon Simeon Brown Minister of Health Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour, and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac's decision to fund or widen access to three treatments, including for skin cancer, from 1 June 2025. 'Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the government,' Mr Seymour says. 'Today represents another step forward for cancer patients as the $604 million uplift from the government continues to facilitate access to new treatments. 'Pharmac continues to show what it is capable of when given the support it needs. Pharmac has made decisions to: Widen access to pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda) Fund dabrafenib (branded as Tafinlar) and trametinib (branded as Mekinist) for the first time. Dabrafenib and trametinib are used as a combination treatment. 'About 285 people with melanoma will benefit from these medicines, funded for people with stage 3B to 4 skin cancers, in the first year of funding,' Mr Seymour says. 'The early signs of Pharmac's redirection remain positive, as expanding opportunities and access for patients and their families continue to be prioritised. 'Through consultation feedback, Pharmac heard of people experiencing side effects from receiving treatments with immune checkpoint inhibitors. This is due to funding more access and use of these medicines as part of the budget increase. As a result, Pharmac is widening access to infliximab and tocilizumab to treat side effects from having immune checkpoint inhibitors. Mr Brown says delivering better and faster access to cancer care in New Zealand has been a focus of this Government, which is why it is one of our five key health targets. 'As Minister of Health, I am focused on ensuring better access to more cancer medicines, better cancer management driven by our faster cancer treatment target, and earlier detection of cancers through screening programmes,' Mr Brown says. 'One of the important reasons why Kiwis elected this Government was because they knew we could keep our promises to fund more cancer medicines. This announcement from Pharmac means more New Zealanders will get the care they need. 'Today is a good day for cancer patients. We campaigned on boosting Pharmac's funding so that it could cover 13 additional cancer treatments, and from 1 June 2025, Pharmac will fund treatments for all those cancer types.' 'I'm pleased to see Pharmac's responsiveness to the voices of patients and their families by expanding access to more medicines for more groups. This decision reflects our commitment to a more adaptable and patient-centered approach,'Mr Seymour says.
