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The government's drug funding agency Pharmac is asking for public feedback on its proposal to fund four new medicines for cancer and lung disease, including one to prevent RSV in vulnerable babies.
That medicine - palivizumab was previously funded for at-risk babies using money ring-fenced for the Covid-19 response, and was shown to cut hospitalisations. But that funding ended in October 2023, at which point Pharmac added it to its "options for investment" wishlist.
Consultation also opened Friday on proposed funding for:
- osimertinib (branded as Tagrisso) for a type of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer
- trastuzumab deruxtecan (branded as Enhertu) for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
- triple inhaler (branded as Breztri Aerosphere) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Director of pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon said Pharmac estimated in the first year of funding about 300 people would benefit from the cancer drugs, 800 people from palivizumab and more than 5000 people could start on the new inhaler.
"Having access to these medicines would make a meaningful difference to the health of people with these conditions."
The consultation closed on 7 October. Pharmac would then analyse the feedback received and finalise its funding proposal before making a decision.
If approved, the medicines would be fully funded from 1 January, 2025.
Ah-Leen Rayner, chief executive of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, said making trastuzumab deruxtecan freely available would be "life-changing" for women.
"Our country's top breast cancer specialists declared Enhertu to be one of the top three priorities for unfunded drugs in New Zealand, and the clinical trials for it have generated a level of excitement not seen in breast cancer since the emergence of trastuzumab (Herceptin) 20 years ago."
Libby Burgess, chair of the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition, said the drug would allow women with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer to remain stable and live significantly longer than they do on current treatments.
"This will give people more time with their families, allow them to continue contributing to their communities and working in their jobs. This is nothing short of outstanding! We're absolutely delighted to see this announcement from Pharmac as it will truly benefit those with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer if this medicine is funded."
In June, the government allocated Pharmac an extra $604m over four years to widen access to medicines, in response to a public backlash to the Budget's failure to deliver on the National Party's pre-election promises to fund specific cancer drugs.