Posted by Michael Wonder on 24 Feb 2026
PHARMAC proposes to widen access to two medicines for people with melanoma
24 February 2026 - PHARMAC is proposing to widen access to two medicines used to treat melanoma, giving people another funded immunotherapy option that can help lower the chance of the cancer coming back.
The proposal would allow people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma, that can be removed with surgery, to receive nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab before surgery. People who require further treatment after surgery would also have access to funded nivolumab or other funded treatments if suitable.
