Submission to the Health Select Committee on the funding on life saving medicines ibrutinib and venetoclax for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL).

The following talk was presented by Dr Neil Graham to the Health Select Committee on 7 August 2019 to support the submission calling for the Select Committee to strongly recommend funding of two life-saving treatments.

This submission is made by CLL Advocates NZ, an organisation representing the interests of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) patients and their families. In New Zealand, approximately 2,800 people are diagnosed with blood cancer each year. This number encompasses leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.  Leukaemia accounts for around 700 cases annually — the majority of these being CLL.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (lymphoid neoplasms). It is characterized by a progressive accumulation of functionally incompetent lymphocytes, which are usually monoclonal in origin.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (lymphoid neoplasms). It is characterized by a progressive accumulation of functionally incompetent B lymphocytes, which are usually monoclonal in origin.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the B cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (lymphoid neoplasms). According to the World Health Organization classification, B cell CLL is considered to be identical (ie, one disease with different manifestations) to the mature (peripheral) B cell neoplasm small lymphocytic lymphoma...

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the progressive accumulation of usually monoclonal, functionally incompetent lymphocytes. Patients with CLL commonly develop complications associated with the intrinsic immune dysfunction that results in immunodeficiency and the development of autoimmune disorders.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is a mature B cell neoplasm characterized by a progressive accumulation of monoclonal B lymphocytes.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (lymphoid neoplasms). It is characterized by a progressive accumulation of functionally incompetent lymphocytes, which are usually monoclonal in origin.

This report was commissioned by Medicines New Zealand and reviews the public funding of highly innovative modern medicines across eight key therapy areas including cancer, and compares medicine reimbursement within 20 OECD countries between 2011-2017 inclusive.