Leukaemia drug awaits decision on funding

By KATHERINE HOBY

Leukaemia patients could soon benefit from a cancer drug given fast-track approval, but a decision on a Government subsidy is some way off.

Glivec has been approved by the Ministry of Health for treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia when conventional treatment with interferon has failed.

Glivec's developers say it has had "phenomenal" trial results, producing responses in up to 90 per cent of patients whose previous treatment was unsuccessful.

The drug, taken orally daily, interferes with the signal of an enzyme that promotes the growth of cancer cells. Healthy cells are unaffected by it.

The ministry's Medsafe senior adviser, Dr Stewart Jessamine, said the drug had been registered in six months - rather than the usual 12 - because of its potential benefits.

"The rapid approval system operating in New Zealand is designed to allow patients early access to significant new medications as soon as is possible without compromising the quality of the evaluation process," Dr Jessamine said.

Glivec's maker has applied to Government drug-buying agency Pharmac for the drug to be subsidised.

Rotorua woman Carol Clarke was the first New Zealander to start testing Glivec.

She was diagnosed 18 months ago, aged 52. But after six months on the drug she was told her bone marrow was clear.

Mrs Clarke said she was delighted to hear Glivec had been approved by the ministry.

"It would have been a miracle if I'm as well as I am now without Glivec," she said.

But she was concerned that the drug would be available only when treatment with interferon had failed.

"It might be too late then," she said. "The sooner they get onto it with Glivec the better."

Pharmac general manager Wayne McNee said the drug cost up to $100,000 a year for each patient and a decision on a subsidy would not be known until December at the earliest.

The Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC), a statutory body established to advise Pharmac, would meet next month to review the application.

PTAC made a preliminary assessment of Glivec in August but sought more information because it was not registered by the ministry.

"We certainly won't be making a decision until after PTAC has met but it's worth noting that this product is between $60,000 and $100,000 per patient per year and so that makes it an expensive treatment without doubt," Mr McNee said.

"We'll have to consider very carefully the costs and benefits once we've got the medical advice."

Chronic myeloid leukaemia is one of the most common types of blood cancer but is relatively rare - there are only one to two cases per 100,000 in New Zealand each year.

However, it accounts for between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of all adult leukaemias and is usually fatal within five years if not treated.

- NZPA

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