The acceptance of Keytruda's effectiveness after Pharmac's budget was boosted undermines the medicines funding agency's credibility, Labour says. Sarah Fitt, Pharmac's director of operations, said the agency had remained open-minded to funding Keytruda, and had worked with Merck Sharp & Dohme to reach a favourable commercial agreement. A campaign by Labour, some doctors and patients for an advanced melanoma drug to be funded - with Keytruda most often mentioned - ran earlier this year. After a $39 million boost as part of last month's Budget was confirmed in May, Pharmac proposed to fund rival melanoma drug Opdivo. And this week it published a new provisional agreement to fund Keytruda.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 29, 2016 04:50 UTC