14 February 2024 - PHARMAC is funding two new cancer treatments, for advanced breast cancer, and for blood cancer, which will improve health outcomes for hundreds of New Zealanders.

The treatments will be funded through an agreement with Novartis, and will be available from 1 July 2024:

• ribociclib succinate (Kisqali) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer
• midostaurin (Rydapt) for patients with de novo FLT3 mutation positive acute myeloid leukaemia

PHARMAC is also removing the funding renewal requirement for sacubitril with valsartan (Entresto), a treatment for heart failure used by around 15,000 New Zealanders, allowing people to remain on treatment for as long as they need it without having to make further applications.

Read PHARMAC press release