Cancer society backs use of Herceptin

The Cancer Society has backed the case for women with early stage breast cancer having access to the drug Herceptin.

"The society supports the view that all New Zealanders should have access to the very best possible treatment available for their condition," society chief executive Neil Chave said today.

"The society recognises there are issues in relation to the funding of the drug but nevertheless reiterates its belief that everyone in this country has the right to the treatment which gives them the best health outcome achievable."

Last month Medsafe made a regulatory decision to provisionally approve the use of Herceptin in early stage breast cancer.

New Zealand is the first country to formally register Herceptin for use in early-stage breast cancer, but Pharmac and district health board representatives told a press conference in Wellington they could not guarantee it would be subsidised.

Herceptin will now be referred directly to Pharmac's cancer sub-committee, scheduled to meet this month, and then back to Pharmac's advisory board for a final recommendation when it meets in May.

In the meantime, Pharmac will try to negotiate down the asking price for the drug, and the 21 district health boards will try to find a way to fund the new drug by the time their chief executives discuss it in June.

- NZPA