Further Herceptin information received by PTAC

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

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