Hundreds of cancer patients could be set to benefit from the first drugs funded out of the Government's recent funding boost for Pharmac.
Drug-buying agency Pharmac has announced, pending a consultation, Keytruda will be the first drug funded from October 1.
It will be used to treat advanced triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma.
Pharmac also announced Opdivo will be funded for kidney cancer from November.
The funding was due to the Government's $600m funding boost last month. The minister in charge of Pharmac, David Seymour, was surprised at how quickly the agency was able to make funding decisions.
"Even I'm a little bit surprised they've managed to do it this quickly. It's very impressive and it speaks of good things to come."
Triple-negative breast cancer sufferer Gill Ripley was diagnosed a year ago. She began chemo last August, had surgery in January then her oncologist recommended Keytruda but it was unfunded. She was told it would cost $100,000.
"When she first told me how much it was, it was kind of like 'there's no way I'll be able to afford that - that's a life-changing sum of money'."
But the announcement today won't affect Ripley because she has early-stage cancer and Pharmac said it would only be opening consultation for advanced triple-negative breast cancer.
"I can look back and whatever happens know that I did everything that I could because that's the biggest thing, you've got to know that you've done everything," Ripley told Newshub.
The breast cancer application is expected to help 30 women in the first year - Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition chair Libby Burgess said she was delighted.
"Overjoyed. It is a fantastic announcement for women with advanced triple-negative breast cancer."
But she said it's just the beginning of what's needed.
"It's great to have it funded for the advanced stage of the disease. It should really be funded for the early stage of the disease as well. We know that will stop the cancer coming back."
Patient advocate Malcolm Mulholland said this is evidence of what can happen if Pharmac is sufficiently funded.
"This is the first drug to treat bowel cancer in over 22 years - it's massive," Mulholland said.
Chris Wakeman is a colorectal surgeon and has concerns about the capacity of the system to administer the new meds.
"Do we have the beds or do we have the chairs to administer these drugs? Do we have the nurses? I think it is questionable."
