Kurt Brunton is fighting Cancer and has one last chance of survival but needs treatment in the US at a cost of $1.5 million
In five days a terminally ill New Zealand father will travel to the US for the most important appointment of his life.
Kurt Brunton, 41, is flying overseas for groundbreaking immunotherapy treatment that will cost up to $1.5 million but he hopes could save his life.
Though the treatment is not currently available in New Zealand, it is understood researchers hope to commence clinical trials here, with an announcement expected shortly.
Experts believe the treatment could save at least 70 Kiwi lives each year.
Brunton, a Remuera software accountant, has been battling an aggressive form of blood cancer since January. Two weeks ago his condition escalated dramatically spreading to five tumours around his body.
His doctor had begun prepping him for palliative care as no further treatment was available in New Zealand.
But through an "absolute miracle" a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment is available in Boston but at a steep price.
In a desperate race against time, Brunton needs to raise up to $1.5 million by the end of the month when payment for the treatment is required upfront.
Kurt Brunton with his wife Janelle Brunton-Rennie and their daughter Sage. Photo / Dean Purcell
The family say they are willing to do whatever it takes to get there.
"We will put our house on the market, sell our cars, beg if we have to. This is our last hope," Brunton's wife Janelle Brunton-Rennie, told the Herald in tears.
A Givealittle page was created on Saturday in support of the family and by last night had already raised $120,000. Brunton-Rennie, a 35-year-old PR agency owner, said it was difficult to say just how much everything would cost .
"Worst case scenario we are looking at NZ$1.5m, best case NZ$650,000 plus flights and accommodation."
On Wednesday, Brunton will have his first consultation at Massachusetts General Hospital. Depending on the outcome, he will either qualify for the CAR-T clinical trial or the Federal Drug Agency approved CAR-T treatment called Yescarte.
The trial costs between NZ$500,000 to $1m, while Yescarte starts at NZ$1.2m.
The immune cells - known as the T cells - are taken out and are genetically engineered into "killer cells" before being inserted back into the blood.
Brunton will spend about six weeks in hospital.
Aucklander David Downs, 47, has been helping Brunton in his fight for survival.
Earlier this year Downs was the first ever international patient to receive the treatment.
Kurt has one last chance of survival but needs treatment in the US at a cost of $1.5 million. Photo / Dean Purcell
"I was diagnosed with a similar type of lymphoma cancer to Kurt in January 2017. After multiple treatments, including 12 rounds of chemo, failed I was given less than a year to live.
"The doctors said they had nothing more to offer me as I'd exhausted all my options," Downs said.
His specialist told him about an immunotherapy being trialled in the US but said access was very difficult and it was early days.
"I didn't really want to put up with that so I managed to get myself on a clinical trial in Boston."
Downs went through the same fight as Brunton to raise the necessary funds. He put his house on the market, started a Givealittle page and borrowed from whoever he could.
"The cost is just astronomical. I was quoted $1 million and then travel costs on top of that.
"I actually feel very guilty that I did manage to get the funds and my life was saved when so many others aren't so lucky."
Royal Australasian College of Physicians New Zealand chair Jeff Brown said such cases were difficult because terminally ill patients were so desperate to find a cure.
"You would do that and I would do that but is that at any cost?
"There is always a breakthrough treatment somewhere that costs a huge amount with a promise which may or may not be fulfilled.
Kurt Brunton, here with wife Janelle Brunton-Rennie and daughter Sage, is seeking immunotherapy. Photo / Dean Purcell
"The difficult thing we are faced with is how much can we, as a country, afford to spend on treatments that haven't been proven yet."
But health researchers believe that bringing the treatment to New Zealand could save around 70 lives each year, which could double as more research was being done to treat other types of cancers.
The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (MIMR) is working to get New Zealanders better access to this treatment and will be making an announcement about clinical trials later this month.
Downs has been working with MIMR to help get these trials off the ground.
"Spending a million dollars on this treatment is just ridiculous and if we could get this treatment here in New Zealand so many more lives could be saved."
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Dr Chris Jackson, medical director of the NZ Cancer Society, said:
"While offering hope, these experimental therapies are often very expensive with uncertain outcomes, and take people away from support networks at home often towards the end of their life."
The society strongly supported investment in national clinical trials, including the latest immune-based research therapies.
