BCFNZ responds to proposed funding of palbociclib for advanced breast cancer
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ recently gave feedback to Pharmac on their proposed funding of palbociclib (Ibrance) for advanced breast cancer. The Foundation is looking forward to seeing palbociclib made available and securing maximum access for as many patients as possible.
The feedback BCFNZ has given includes:
- congratulating Pharmac on funding palbociclib as a first and second line therapy,
- proposing an update to the projected first-year patient numbers, which BCFNZ are considerably fewer than Pharmac anticipates, and
- recommending the proposed criteria that "Patient has been amenorrheic for 12 months or greater, either naturally or induced, with endocrine levels consistent with a postmenopausal state" be dropped from the Special Authority.