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News & Trends - Pharmaceuticals

Funding AstraZeneca’s immunotherapy highlights inequities in access to lung cancer therapies

Health Industry Hub | March 21, 2022 |

Pharma News: The decision to fund AstraZeneca’s immunotherapy treatment Imfinzi (durvalumab) for stage 3 lung cancer is a small step forward, highlighting extreme inequities in access to treatments for New Zealand’s biggest cancer killer.

Philip Hope, Chief Executive of Lung Foundation New Zealand (LFNZ), said “This funding decision [from Pharmac] will be life changing for stage 3 NSCLC lung cancer patients (approx. 300 per year) who will now have access to Imfinzi from 1st August 2022. Access to treatment is access to life and all patients diagnosed with lung cancer deserve to thrive.”

Lung Foundation New Zealand acknowledges AstraZeneca for choosing to provide ‘compassionate access’ to Imfinzi until Pharmac funding begins in August, for all patients that meet the eligibility criteria.

Despite many advances in early detection and innovative treatments across the OECD, the Lung Foundation is witnessing unprecedented suffering and inequity in New Zealand, resulting in premature death for most patients diagnosed with lung cancer.

“Our courageous patient community are especially mindful, 1300 patients diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer do not yet have access to immunotherapy treatment which is the standard of care for lung cancer. Plus there are another 300 patients in need of a targeted therapy that is still sitting with Pharmac,” said Mr Hope.

You may also like: Closing the gap on health inequality impacting First Nations Peoples

NZ’s treatment paradigm for lung cancer remains well below international standard. Many treatments readily available in the OECD continue to await Pharmac funding.

Australia funds 17 treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – 80% of lung cancers – yet NZ funds just 5. This highlights why NZ’s survival rates for lung cancer lag behind Australia and the OECD.

According to Lung Foundation New Zealand, Māori and Pacifica patients are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced or metastatic lung cancer, which means they are less likely to benefit from access to Imfinzi, resulting in health inequity.

Mr Hope adds “This statistic tells us primary healthcare in NZ must improve early detection. Doctors must investigate symptoms, rather than take a wait and see approach.”


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