Harbour Cancer and Wellness welcomes Pharmac’s proposal to widen access to two medicines used to treat melanoma, a move that would give more New Zealanders access to treatment that significantly reduces the risk of cancer returning.
Under the proposal, people with stage 3B to stage 4 melanoma that can be surgically removed would be eligible to receive immunotherapy prior to surgery. This represents an important evolution in the standard of care for melanoma.
In recent years, the treatment landscape for melanoma has changed markedly. We now use immunotherapy to activate a patient’s own immune system so that it recognises and eradicates melanoma cells. It targets not only the visible tumour, but cancer cells throughout the body.
“In clinical trials we’ve seen cancer eradicated in around 60 per cent of patients before surgery,” says Gareth Rivalland. “Funding these medicines would make this highly effective treatment available to more New Zealanders.”
With this drug combination, the duration of treatment can be reduced. Patients could have just six weeks of treatment prior to surgery and have a good chance of being cured.
“This was a clinician-initiated proposal, but we should feel proud that Pharmac has shown real engagement and responsiveness to that proposal,” says Rosalie Stephens.
Listen to Gareth discuss the new treatment on RNZ and Newstalk ZB.
Listen to Rosalie discussing the new treatment with the Herald.
Posted: Fri 27 Feb 2026
