KEY POINTS:
Government drug-buying agency Pharmac today began its court-ordered consultation on whether it should begin funding 12-month courses of the breast cancer drug Herceptin.
In July 2006 Pharmac decided to back just the nine-week course of the drug, used to combat the aggressive HER2 positive form of breast cancer, at an estimated cost to District Health Boards of about $6 million a year.
To fund the 12-month course would cost about $25 million.
Eight breast cancer patients, labelled the `Herceptin Heroines', took Pharmac to court to challenge the decision.
The High Court in Wellington earlier this year found insufficient consultation had been done in regard to the possible benefits of the longer course and instructed Pharmac to start over.
Pharmac chief executive Matthew Brougham said the agency stood by its original decision but was aware Herceptin was a relatively new drug and new information had emerged since then.
"To help people make meaningful responses, and to be transparent about our current thinking, it is important we make it clear in consultation what our proposal is - the proposal is for funding to be declined," Mr Brougham said.
"(However) we want to assure people that Pharmac has an open mind and is treating this as an opportunity to review all available materials, hear from all interested parties, and to ultimately make a robust decision having followed a fair and open process."
A consultation letter seeking feedback is being sent to over 200 organisations including breast cancer groups, health groups, oncologists and DHBs. The letter is also available on Pharmac's website www.pharmac.govt.nz.
A number of groups with "a particular interest" will be asked to attend meetings with Pharmac staff.
In addition, Pharmac said there was a major oncology conference in the United States at the end of May and it would consider any relevant data presented there.
The consultation is expected to take five weeks, with the Pharmac board to make a decision in June.
"However, we may delay a decision after we take into account responses and any new information that comes to light," Pharmac said.
Mr Brougham said it was important to remember the nine-week treatment was still available and would remain available if the 12-month course was declined.
Pharmac remains involved in an international clinical trial investigating the benefits of longer duration treatments.
- NZPA
