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New Zealand’s Pharmac Seeks Feedback on Funding Proposals for BMS’ Opdivo® & Yervoy®, and Pfizer’s Besponsa®

Dec 19, 2024

On 19 December 2024, New Zealand’s Pharmac issued a media release requesting feedback on proposals to fund six medicines for cancer and antibiotic resistant infections from 1 April 2025, which includes: 

  • BMS’ Opdivo® (nivolumab) and Yervoy® (ipilimumab) (in combination) for kidney cancer as a first treatment option; and 
  • Pfizer’s Besponsa® (inotuzumab ozogamicin) for a type of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The consultation period closes on 24 January 2025.  

In September 2024, Pharmac announced that Opdivo® (as monotherapy) would be fully funded for eligible people with kidney cancer from 1 November 2024.   

As previously reported, New Zealand has recently increased funding for cancer drugs, including Keytruda® (pembrolizumab).