Media Release
Further Herceptin information received by PTAC
PHARMAC’s clinical advisory committee PTAC today considered further information on the use of Herceptin for early breast
cancer.
PTAC, the Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee, is a committee of independent doctors with expertise in
critical appraisal of trial data, whose role is to provide clinical advice to PHARMAC on pharmaceuticals being
considered for subsidy.
PHARMAC’s deputy medical director Dr Dilky Rasiah says the information that has been presented to the regular quarterly
meeting of PTAC today, adds to the evidence that has already been reviewed by PTAC at its February and May 2006
meetings.
The new information includes preliminary release of the 23-month follow-up of the one-year treatment arm from the large
HERA trial, as well as some further data supplied by pharmaceutical company Roche, which markets Herceptin.
In July PHARMAC and DHBs announced that funding had not been recommended for Herceptin, but that PHARMAC is committed to
actively reviewing new evidence that becomes available, says Dr Rasiah.
ENDS