The Gut Cancer Foundation has today written to Pharmac in response to news released on Friday August 9th that they have issued a Future Procurement Opportunity (FPO) for the cancer treatment bevacizumab.
Aotearoa/New Zealand remains an outlier with no funded systemic options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC/liver cancer), whilst Māori and New Zealanders living with socio-economic deprivation are over-represented in those with hepatocellular carcinoma. We held hope that atezolizumab/bevacizumab would be funded with urgency after government announcements both pre and post-election and the presence of atezolizumab/bevacizumab in Te Aho’s O Kaho’s gap analysis paper.
Executive Officer, Liam Willis explained the reasons for concern. “Whilst we applaud Pharmac’s goal of gaining best value for scarce public funds, we know from past experience that a competitive tender process will likely significantly delay funding arrangements for atezolizumab/bevacizumab as a combined technology for those with liver cancers. Atezolizumab/ bevacizumab for liver cancer patients was one of the treatments named in the government’s announcement of additional Pharmac funding, sparking hope amongst our community that the treatment would be available soon. As such, we are asking that Pharmac consider funding this treatment now, as a priority, even if this is in a time limited fashion – ahead of the outcome of the FPO.”
Gut Cancer Foundation continues to advocate for access to systemic therapy for these patients who continue to miss out on standard of care and will continue to update as we know more.