Pharmac is proposing to expand access to two skin cancer medicines, which are expected to be more effective in treating melanoma and could relieve pressure on the health system.

Pharmac Minister David Seymour, alongside Health Minister Simeon Brown, today announced the drug-buying entity’s proposal to allow greater access to two medicines, nivolumab and ipilimumab, from May this year for people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma.

“This proposal would give people who meet funding criteria another immunotherapy option before surgery, while the cancer is still operable,” Seymour said.

“This lowers the chance of the cancer coming back.”

He referenced clinical advisers who had informed Pharmac that using the treatments together before surgery, then adjusting treatment based on how the cancer has responded could lower the chance of it returning.

“Nearly two in three people have a very strong response by the time their tumour is removed, with significant shrinkage or very little active disease remaining,” he said.

“Because of this strong early response, many people may not need further treatment after surgery. This can mean fewer ongoing infusions, and fewer hospital visits for people with melanoma, their families, and carers.”

It was estimated the proposal would save about 1000 infusion hours per year.

New Zealand has the highest rate of melanoma globally. According to Melanoma NZ, more than 7000 cancers are diagnosed every year, while about 300 people die every year.

Last week, Pharmac announced another proposal to fund two new therapies for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

The proposal, which was open for consultation until March 4, would lead to two combination therapies being funded from May this year: venetoclax with ibrutinib and venetoclax with obinutuzumab.

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.