KEY POINTS:
Herceptin patient Anne Hayden is elated at news that the drug may become available to more women with breast cancer.
Ms Hayden chairs the lobby group Herceptin Heroes, and has spent nearly a year spearheading the campaign for the drug to be publicly funded for women with early
stage HER-2 positive breast cancer.
Her hopes were raised after findings from a major international trial that showed a "significant benefit" to those taking the drug were published in the medical journal the Lancet.
"I'm really hopeful that Lancet's view will influence Pharmac, and if not Pharmac then the advisers for the Minister of Health. It would be really gratifying to have achieved something for early HER-2 positive women after a year of campaigning."
The Devonport resident last year increased the mortgage on her home to pay for six months of the drug which would have cost her around $127,000.
But other women did not even have that financial avenue open to them. Ms Hayden decided to act, and started a petition to increase pressure on the Government to expand access to the costly medicine.
"I have no doubt whatsoever that everyone will be delighted with this endorsement of what they've been campaigning for."
Pharmac has signalled that it will review the decision after the Lancet article, and will seek advice from its clinical committees, one of which will meet next month.
The data from the study were first released at a conference in June 2006, but the agency wanted to wait until the results had been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Dr Andy Simpson, chairman of the Association of Cancer Specialists, has supported public funding.
"The evidence is getting a lot stronger that this is the way to go.
"Most of the westernised countries do have it funded. We're one of the few that don't. And the countries that have got it funded have funded it on what Pharmac would argue were lesser degrees of evidence, but this has now consolidated that. It puts a lot more weight that this should be funded."
Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition chairwoman Libby Burgess said Pharmac could no longer ignore the findings that have convinced 23 OECD countries to fund the drug.
The delays had had tragic consequences for some women, she said.
"Pharmac must now do the right thing by our women and their families."
National Party leader John Key said the Government should signal to Pharmac that it would free up funding for Herceptin if required.
"What's really worrying is the nagging feeling that this has been a financial decision not to fund Herceptin, rather than a decision founded in the best interests of Kiwi women."
Mr Key is confident Herceptin will eventually be funded, but is urging Prime Minister Helen Clark to speed up the process by indicating money was available.