New Zealand sits at the bottom of the western world for access to modern medicines. Pharmac decide what drugs we buy and when. So why aren’t Kiwis getting the medicines they need? Listen to Rachel Smalley discuss this topic: Rachel Smalley. NZ’s Shameful Health SecretContinue Reading
American multiple myeloma patient Andrew Sninsky, 75, is cycling around New Zealand to raise awareness of a cancer without a cure. Myeloma is a blood cancer of the plasma cells which are white blood cells in the bone marrow that make antibodies. Myeloma is incurable and the patient lives with it for the rest of...Continue Reading
It takes the nation’s drug-buying agency, Pharmac, an average of 7.7 years to make funding decisions about potentially life-saving medicines, a report has found. The Pharmac’s Medicines Waiting Lists: Impacts on Patients in Aotearoa New Zealand report, commissioned by lobby group Medicines New Zealand found it took on an average nearly eight years to reach a decision on applications across...Continue Reading
In the first two months of 2021, 27 patients were harmed by cancer treatment delays, the Otago Daily Times reported. Three became so sick while waiting they were unfit for treatment. Have you been affected? Please email: newsdesk@nzherald.co.nz Please read more here: Cancer patients harmed by treatment delaysContinue Reading
Myeloma New Zealand has made a submission on the Therapeutic Products Bill, as it has implications for Myeloma Patients. The Chair of the Health Committee has called for public submissions on the Therapeutic Products Bill. Therapeutic Products are medicines, medical devices, natural health products, and pharmaceutical ingredients. The bill seeks to provide for the regulation...Continue Reading
Nathaniel works in the research team, where the CAR T-cells are designed, and supports both the GMP team, where the CAR T-cells are manufactured, and the clinical team, who administer the CAR T-cells to participants in the trial. Read more here: First-car-t-cell-therapy-clinical-trialContinue Reading
The Australasian Myeloma Research Consortium (AMaRC) in collaboration with theAustralasian Leukaemia & Lymphoma Group (ALLG) and the Myeloma and Related DiseasesRegistry (MRDR) is conducting a phase II study to investigate the optimal usage oflenalidomide and/or bortezomib in newly-diagnosed transplant-ineligible myeloma patientsbased on a frailty score (frailty is characterised by a decline in body functions). If...Continue Reading
The New Zealand Myeloma Interest Group is comprised of representative haematologists from District Health Boards around the country with a special interest and expertise in MM. We reviewed the currently available evidence, including randomised controlled trials, retrospective data and conference abstracts, and interpreted these in the context of treatment options available in New Zealand to...Continue Reading
Myeloma experts convened in person and online for the 2022 Multiple Myeloma Queenstown Summit, hosted by Myeloma New Zealand. This year’s meeting included presentations from local and international experts, including the Chief Medical Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, Professor Joseph Mikhael, Assistant Professor Jonathan Keats from Arizona, and Professor Simon Harrison and Dr Simon...Continue Reading