New breast cancer drug reduces risk of relapse

Australians with breast cancer can now apply to receive a drug that reduces the risk of cancer returning, under a special access program.

Nerlynx is targeted for use in women with HER 2+ early breast cancer. One in four women diagnosed with this type of cancer can suffer a relapse in five years and it is believed that taking Nerlynx will prevent some of those recurrences.

Specialised Therapeutics, the drug’s marketer in Australia, is seeking regulatory approval of the drug for it to be reimbursed by the government and has launched the special access program while it awaits regulatory approval. Select patients under the program in Australia, would be provided access to the medicine, where appropriate and when permitted by relevant regulatory authorities. In all cases, the patient must have a special clinical need that cannot be met by currently approved and available medicines.