1 September 2019 - PHARMAC invites proposals for the supply of a CDK4/CDK6 inhibitor for the treatment of HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in New Zealand.

This is a very interesting development insofar as all of the CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors are still under patent. This appears to PHARMAC's first RFP where all the medicines of interest are patent protected.

The RFP is odd given the PTAC recommended the listing of palbociclib (Ibrance) and ribociclib succinate (Kisqali) in May this year.

"The Committee recommended that palbociclib be funded with a low priority for use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as a first-line treatment for hormone receptor- positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

The Committee recommended that ribociclib be funded with a low priority for use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as a first-line treatment for hormone receptor- positive, HER2 negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

The Committee recommended that palbociclib be funded with medium priority for use in combination with fulvestrant as a second-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer."

There are only three CDK4/CDK6 inhibitors on the market worldwide; the third (abemaciclib) is not registered in New Zealand.

Read PHARMAC's Request for Proposals