IBRANCE® (palbociclib) to be funded from 1 April for HR positive/HER2 negative (HR+/HER2–) advanced or metastatic breast cancer
Pfizer New Zealand today welcomed the decision by PHARMAC to fund IBRANCE (palbociclib) from 1 April 2020 for women with
hormone-receptor positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2–) advanced or metastatic
breast cancer in combination with an aromatase inhibitor, or with fulvestrant in women after prior endocrine therapy.1,2
Pfizer Australia and New Zealand Oncology Business Unit Lead Elise Kelly said: “We estimate at least 1,100 New Zealand
patients will benefit from IBRANCE this year alone.3 Pfizer New Zealand is very pleased that, after a long wait,
patients in New Zealand will have access to IBRANCE in both the first- and second-line setting. It is pleasing to see
that PHARMAC's recent consultation period on the proposal to fund IBRANCE has led to enhanced eligibility criteria which
may enable more New Zealand patients to benefit from funded treatment.”
Access to targeted treatments like IBRANCE, which enable New Zealand patients to live well and for longer without their
disease progressing, is crucial for people with advanced cancer.4,5,6 More than 600 New Zealand women are diagnosed with
advanced breast cancer every year7 and the majority of these patients will have HR+/HER2- disease.8
IBRANCE represents an important advancement in the treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer,5,6,9 and
has been registered by MEDSAFE in New Zealand since 2017.10 IBRANCE works by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6
(CDK4/6), thereby delaying cancer cell division and growth.11
To support New Zealand patients with HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer whilst they are awaiting funding,
until 1 April 2020, Pfizer New Zealand will continue to provide IBRANCE at no charge* to patients for whom the treating
clinician determines that IBRANCE is appropriate, and who meet the PHARMAC clinical criteria for funded access. After 1
April 2020, we anticipate that these patients will be eligible for funded IBRANCE. A special authority form will need to
be completed by a treating clinician to receive subsidised IBRANCE.
Some New Zealand patients currently enrolled in the IBRANCE Assistance Program and receiving IBRANCE at no charge*, may
not meet the PHARMAC clinical criteria for funded access. These patients will continue to receive IBRANCE at no charge*.
Healthcare professionals who wish to obtain IBRANCE for their patients are requested to contact Pfizer for further
details.
It is important that all patients speak with their healthcare professional to understand what treatment options are
right for them.About IBRANCE
IBRANCE is an oral therapy approved for use in women with HR+/HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer, in combination
with an aromatase inhibitor, or with fulvestrant after prior endocrine therapy.2
When used in combination with endocrine (hormone) therapy, IBRANCE significantly prolongs the duration of tumour control
compared to hormone therapy alone.2,5,6 The addition of a CDK 4/6 inhibitor, such as IBRANCE, to endocrine therapy is
now considered a standard treatment approach for postmenopausal women with advanced or metastatic HR+/HER2- breast
cancer, and is supported by major international guidelines.12,13,14
In the Phase 3 PALOMA-2 trial of 666 postmenopausal women with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer in the first-line
treatment setting, the combination of IBRANCE plus letrozole resulted in a statistically significant improvement in
progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=0.56 [95% CI: 0.461–0.687], P<0.000001), with a median PFS of 27.6 months compared to 14.5 months for those treated with letrozole plus placebo.2
The Phase 3 PALOMA-3 trial of 521 women with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, regardless of menopausal status, whose
disease had progressed on or after prior endocrine therapy, found that the combination of IBRANCE plus fulvestrant
substantially improved PFS compared to fulvestrant plus placebo (HR=0.497 [95% CI: 0.398–0.620), P<0.000001), with a median PFS of 11.2 months (95% CI: 9.5–12.9) in the IBRANCE plus fulvestrant arm compared to 4.6
months (95% CI: 3.5–5.6) in women who received placebo plus fulvestrant.2,6
* Pfizer New Zealand provides IBRANCE medicine at no charge, pharmacy dispensing fees may apply.
DIRECT TO CONSUMER MANDATORY
IBRANCE® (palbociclib 75 mg, 100 mg and 125 mg) Capsules
IBRANCE (palbociclib) is an unfunded prescription medicine used to treat HR+, HER2- advanced breast cancer taken in
combination with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant.
IBRANCE has risks and benefits. Do not take IBRANCE if you are allergic to palbociclib or any of the other ingredients
in IBRANCE capsules. Caution is needed if you are premenopausal or perimenopausal, have or have had abnormal blood test
results, problems with your liver or kidneys, are lactose intolerant, are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are
breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines. Common side effects include infection, abnormal
blood test results, tiredness, feeling sick or vomiting, diarrhoea, sore mouth, lips or tongue, hair loss, loss of
appetite, nose bleed, skin rash, change in sense of taste, blurred vision, increased tearing or dry eyes, shortness of
breath, bleeding or bruising more easily than usual. If symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor,
pharmacist or healthcare professional.
Ask your doctor if IBRANCE is right for you. Use strictly as directed. Contains 75 mg, 100 mg or 125 mg of palbociclib.
You will need to pay for this medicine and normal doctor’s fees apply.
Further information on IBRANCE is available from Medsafe www.medsafe.govt.nz or Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Auckland, www.pfizer.co.nz Ph. 0800 736 363. V10817 IBRANCE® is a registered trademark. ©Pfizer 2020.
Date prepared by February 2020. PP-IBR-NZL-0085. TAPS NA 11738. DA2026JB