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Blood Cancer Patient Lauds ‘Brilliant’ Drug Funding, Ministers Avoid Saying Whether Failed Promise Now Honoured
Pharmac seeks to fund venetoclax combinations as first-line treatments from May 2026, potentially benefiting 80 to 90 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients over five years.
- Today, Pharmac proposed funding two venetoclax combination therapies for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, opening a consultation that closes on March 4 and seeking funding from 1 May 2026.
- Pressure from the blood cancer community led to Pharmac proposing funding two combination treatments for CLL after Budget 2024 backlash, citing patient input and economies.
- Changing policy, Pharmac will fund some private treatments for patients already receiving treatment privately, ending the traditional public system requirement officials called "archaic"; Seymour estimated this would cost tens of millions annually.
- About 80 to 90 patients are forecast to benefit over five years, and Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government is expanding stem cell transplant services.
- Advocates warn the gains remain limited, as Blood Cancer NZ head Rosie Shaw noted prior funding helped only 180 patients out of 27,000, while investment is 0.4 percent of GDP versus an OECD average about 1.45 percent.
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Blood cancer patient lauds ‘brilliant’ drug funding, ministers avoid saying whether failed promise now honoured
A blood cancer patient is lauding a “brilliant” proposal from the Pharmac drug-buying agency to fund two new therapies for people with the incurable chronic...
·Auckland, New Zealand
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Pharmac looking to fund leukaemia drugs
Associate Health Minister David Seymour said the right treatment for people with CCL could help patients live longer. Photo: RNZ New medicines for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia could be on the way as the government drug-buying agency Pharmac proposes to fund venetoclax with ibrutinib or with obinutuzumab.
·Otago, New Zealand
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Total News Sources7
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Center
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources are Center
67% Center
L 33%
C 67%
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