Roche welcomes decision to fund Herceptin

Roche welcomes Government decision to fund Herceptin for 52 weeks

News release

10 December 2008

For immediate release

Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited says it has worked productively with the government, the Ministry of Health and PHARMAC in order to supply Herceptin to New Zealand women with early HER2 positive breast cancer.

Managing Director of Roche, Svend Petersen, says - “the company is very pleased that New Zealand women will now have the option to enjoy the same standard of care as that offered in 32 other countries around the world, including Australia”.

Mr Petersen says the weight of existing clinical evidence supports treating women with Herceptin for the full 52 week course. This regimen offers women with this aggressive form of breast cancer the best chance of living longer.

“By using Herceptin to treat early stage HER2 positive breast cancer we will save lives and significantly reduce the number of women who will require extensive and costly treatment for relapsed (advanced) disease”, Mr Petersen says.

“We have enough Herceptin to meet demand and are committed to supplying the Ministry of Health/District Health Boards immediately.” 

“Decades of research and investment in biotechnology are now producing major advances in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. Whilst this innovation does come at a financial cost, medicines such as Herceptin can provide real value in return for the investment made.”

“We therefore welcome the Government’s commitment to increasing the investment into the New Zealand medicines budget.”

Ends

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