New Zealand agrees to pay for Velcade and Thalidomide in MM
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
PHARMAC, the pharmaceutical management agency of New Zealand, has announced that from 1 May, it will fund Velcade (bortezomob) and Thalidomide (thalidomide) as a first or second line treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) or amyloidosis. Celgene's thalidomide has previously been funded for relapsed or refractory MM whereas the current decision allows treatment at any stage in the disease process for patients with either MM or amyloidosis.