Agenda for May 2025 Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee (CTAC) meeting
Information on what the Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee (CTAC) will be considering at its half-day meeting in May 2025.
Correspondence and matters arising discussion papers
Potential oncology agent brand changes
The Committee will discuss potential product changes that may result from the 2024/2025 Invitation to Tender (ITT). This is seeking specific advice from cancer specialists about oncology medicines that could be impacted by a brand change.
Bevacizumab funding criteria for ovarian cancer
From 1 March 2025, bevacizumab was funded for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. The Committee will consider correspondence on the current eligibility criteria, received after the funding decision. The Committee will review the eligibility criteria to ensure they are appropriate.
Bevacizumab for ovarian cancer, advanced, 1st line | Application Tracker(external link)
Bevacizumab for relapsed or recurrent glioma consultation feedback
The Committee previously provided advice on multiple occasions on the use of bevacizumab for glioma. In October 2024, CTAC recommended that bevacizumab monotherapy for the treatment of relapsed or recurrent high-grade glioma be declined. This recommendation was in the context of ongoing lomustine supply. The Committee also recommended bevacizumab in combination with lomustine for the treatment of relapsed or recurrent high-grade glioma be declined.
At this meeting the Committee will consider feedback received from the Brain Tumour Support NZ and the NZ Aotearoa Neuro-Oncology Society about the about the application for bevacizumab for relapsed or recurrent glioma.
Bevacizumab for glioblastoma multiforme, relapsed or recurrent(external link)
Bevacizumab with lomustine for high-grade glioma, relapsed or recurrent(external link)
Applications
Trastuzumab deruxtecan for Her-2 low, unresectable or metastatic breast cancer
The Committee will discuss an application for the use of trastuzumab deruxtecan for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) low, unresectable, or metastatic breast cancer. No targeted agents specifically for the treatment of HER-2 low unresectable or metastatic breast cancer have previously been considered by the Committee.
Trastuzmab deruxtecan for Her-2 low, unresectable or metastatic breast cancer(external link)
Azacitidine, ruxolitinib and tocilizumab for VEXAS syndrome
The Committee will discuss three treatments for VEXAS syndrome. VEXAS syndrome (Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) is a severe autoinflammatory condition that presents with various and broad symptoms, including blood, joint and skin symptoms.
Azacitidine, ruxolitinib and tocilizumab are currently funded for certain uses with eligibility criteria. We understand some people with VEXAS may already be able to access funded treatment where their symptoms align with the funded population. In recent years, Pharmac has also considered a number of applications for individuals with VEXAS syndrome through its exceptional circumstances framework – Named Patient Pharmaceutical Assessment (NPPA).
We will seek initial advice from CTAC about treatments for this condition, before considering what further advice may be required from other specialty areas.
Azacitidine for VEXAS syndrome(external link)
Ruxolitinib for VEXAS syndrome(external link)
Tocilizumab for VEXAS syndrome(external link)
Advisory meeting agenda
The scheduling and agenda setting process for advisory meetings considers multiple factors. We aim to balance the relative priorities of clinical advice needed across indications, the factors for consideration for each application (for example unmet health need), the time since applications were received and the internal and advisor resource available to support each meeting.
We currently have a high number of funding applications for cancer treatments awaiting clinical advice. We are working to enhance capacity and timeliness of expert advice for cancer treatment applications. We expect more applications will be able to be reviewed at future meetings.