Interesting that Pharmac won't fund the new drug Pembrolizumab to treat Melanoma because: 'We don't know about its efficacy”. What a joke.

They already fund drugs they know have a low efficacy. They know that between 10 and 25 per cent of women who suffer breast cancer have tumours with what is called a ‘receptor protein', HER2.Tumours that contain these receptor proteins are referred to as ‘HER2 positive'. The receptor receives signals from growth factors produced by cancer cells telling the cancer to grow faster.

Herceptin is used for these cases when those figures are staring them in the face. They know this drug may help only 10 to 25 per cent of patients yet they fund it.

What the hell is the difference here when this new drug Pembrolizumab is claimed to help a much higher number, around one in three?

Do they run gene tests to establish if Herceptin is applicable? I doubt it, as that costs money.

If they ran gene tests first they would know when or when not to use the drug and could save a million or two, which could fund Pembrolizumab.

A Bourne, Bethlehem.