Latest Proposal from Pharmac for blood cancer medications, consultations open

Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand (LBC) welcomes Pharmac’s proposals to fund:

1.????? Inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa) for people with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

2.????? Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine for people with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who are unable to receive intensive chemotherapy.

The Cancer Control Agency’s Blood Cancer Medicines Availability Analysis highlighted that these medications were funded in Australia but not in New Zealand, despite their substantial clinical benefits.

This funding will bridge this gap and provide access to critical medicines that LBC has advocated for, ensuring improved survival and quality of life for New Zealanders with blood cancer.

Although these consultations signal progress in improving treatment options for ALL and AML patients, significant gaps remain for other blood cancer patients whose critical medicines remain on Pharmac’s funding waitlist. LBC urges the Government to right-size its medicines budget to ensure all New Zealanders with blood cancer receive a standard of care comparable to that of other developed nations.

Pharmac’s consultation on the ALL funding proposal closes on the 24 January, and 10 February for the AML proposal. LBC will be making submissions to represent the views of our patient community. Please contact [email protected] if you have feedback on the funding proposals.