Pharmac is funding six more medicines for cancers and one for antibiotic resistant infections.
The following medicines will be funded from 1 April 2025:
- nivolumab (branded as Opdivo) and ipilimumab (branded as Yervoy) for clear cell kidney cancer that has spread
- axitinib (branded as Inlyta) for clear cell kidney cancer that has spread and worsened after trying other medicines
- sunitinib for kidney cancer that has spread at any point of treatment
- inotuzumab ozogamicin (branded as Besponsa) for a type of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia that has come back after prior treatment
- crizotinib (branded as Xalkori) for a type of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with an ROS1 mutation
- ceftazidime with avibactam (branded as Zavicefta) for antibiotic resistant infections
Pharmac expects about 180 people with cancer and 30 people with antibiotic resistant infections to benefit from these medicines over the next year.
The medicines for cancers will slow down the progression of the disease and could improve survival. The medicine for antibiotic-resistant infections will reduce the time people spend in hospital for treatment.
Pharmac’s Manager Pharmaceuticals Adrienne Martin says these medicines will give people more treatment options.
“Through the consultation feedback we heard how important these medicines will be to help improve people’s quality of life.”
Medical Oncology Consultant Dr Orlaith Heron welcomes the funding of additional medications for renal cancer, especically ipilimumab and nivolumab for a group of people with metastatic disease.
"This funding now brings us in line with international standards of care for (clear cell) renal cancer and will make a meaningful difference, in both length of life and quality of life, for people living with renal cancer."
Pharmac can fund these medicines following the Government’s $604 million medicine budget increase in June 2024. Since receiving the additional funding, Pharmac has funded 50 medicines for different health conditions and is currently considering 8 more.
As part of this decision, Pharmac is changing the funded brand of a breast cancer medicine called palbociclib. The new brand is the same as the currently funded brand and is made by the same supplier.
People will have five months from 1 July 2025 to make the switch to the new funded brand. Pharmac will work with breast cancer consumer groups to make sure people who take this medicine are aware of the change.
