Proposed drug funding for blood cancer welcome, but NZ still lagging behind
PRESS RELEASE – Featuring Marc Pearce, CLL Advocates Trustee
Proposed drug funding for blood cancer welcome, but NZ still lagging behind
Joanne Naish [thepress.co.nz]
February 18, 2026
Nelson man, Marc Pearce, is living with CLL and welcomes Pharmac’s proposal to fund new drugs.
A proposal to fund new drugs for one of the most common blood cancers is welcome news, but patients and advocates say New Zealand still lags behind other countries.
Pharmac is consulting on whether it should fund two new treatment combinations – venetoclax with ibrutinib, and venetoclax with obinutuzumab – for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). If approved, funding would begin on May 1 this year.
Nelson man Marc Pearce was diagnosed with incurable CLL in October 2024 after a routine blood test, but does not need treatment yet.
He said the announcement was a huge weight off his mind, as well as all the people awaiting or having other outdated treatments which had unpleasant side effects and had been abandoned in other countries like Australia, Canada and the UK.
Patients and advocates say access to modern medicines is constrained by Pharmac’s budget.
He said many people were self-funding the drugs at a cost of about $1500 per month or going overseas for treatment.
But while he welcomed the announcement, access to new medicines in New Zealand remained well behind other countries in the OECD with a similar GDP per capita.
“We’re the worst country in all of the countries in the OECD in terms of getting access to those new medicines. So whilst this gives us some access, it doesn’t solve the problem,” he said.
He said it was estimated that Pharmac would need to spend $6 billion a year instead of $1.8 billion a year to get up to the average per capita funding within the OECD.
“So, whilst this is great news for the 3000 people in New Zealand or so who have got CLL, it doesn’t fix the overall long term structural problem in terms of funding medicines.”
CLL Advocates NZ chairperson Ruth Spearing said it was an exciting announcement for the organisation which had been campaigning hard to get these treatments funded.
“We welcome the fact that these treatments are being offered as frontline therapy to patients with CLL and that patients will no longer have to have had old fashion, toxic and indeed cancer-causing chemotherapy and then relapsed before becoming eligible for more modern treatments,” she said.
The new treatments are in oral pill form and do not require IVs or hospital stays like traditional treatments like chemotherapy.
The oral treatments would free up hospital time and allow patients to continue their normal lives while undergoing treatment, as well as extend their lives.
“The funding of drugs in this country still remains at the bottom of all the OECD countries despite our GDP per capita being in the middle our OECD partners,” she said.
“We call on this government and the subsequent governments to rectify this situation so more lifesaving drugs can be funded for CLL and other haematologic conditions.”
Pharmac’s Director Pharmaceuticals, Adrienne Martin said the proposal would give around 80 to 90 people each year access to powerful, targeted treatments immediately after their diagnosis.
“We’ve heard clearly from the blood cancer community and from our clinical advisers that these combinations could make a real difference when used early,” she said.
CLL is a slow‑growing blood cancer where the bone marrow makes too many abnormal white blood cells. While it cannot be cured, people can live well for long periods with the right treatment.
Pharmac is seeking feedback by March 4.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour said improving access to cancer medication in New Zealand was important to cancer patients, and their families.
Associate Health Minister David Seymour says while CLL is not curable, the new drugs would extend people’s lives.
“While CLL isn’t curable, the right treatment means patients can live longer more fulfilling lives. Venetoclax with ibrutinib or obinutuzumab will help patients achieve longer lasting remission, and avoid the need for traditional chemotherapy. Two of these medicines will be available in pill form, which don’t require an IV drip and could mean fewer hospital visits,” he said.
He said people currently paying privately for these combinations could receive funded treatment in a private hospital, provided they met the funding criteria at the time they began treatment to avoid the hugely disruptive and stressful transfer to a public hospital during an immensely difficult period.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the Government was committed to improving treatment and care for New Zealanders with cancer, including blood cancer.
“That’s why this Government has funded seven new cancer medicines that target blood cancer through Pharmac’s $604 million investment – expanding treatment options for patients and their families.”
It was also significantly expanding stem cell transplant services for patients with blood cancers and related conditions, helping more people access critical, life-saving treatment sooner, he said.