About 3000 post-menopausal women a year are to have funded access to a treatment for early breast cancer for the first time.
Photo: 123RF
Pharmac announced widened access to the drug zoledronic acid today.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in this country, being diagnosed in 3300 women a year.
Pharmac said zoledronic acid, which is an infusion given twice a year for two years, will prevent the disease spreading into bones.
It's already funded to treat osteoporosis and bone metastases in cancer patients, in hospital and community settings.
Pharmac said it was expanded funding for the treatment, which can extend the lives of patients, from January.