Temodal To Be Funded For Brain Cancer Patients

Temodal To Be Funded For Newly Diagnosed Brain Cancer Patients

Auckland: Schering Plough is pleased to announce that its brain cancer treatment Temodal (temozolomide) has reached the final stages of funding negotiations with PHARMAC.

Tim Jones, New Zealand Director, Schering Plough, explained that the company is delighted that funding for this important treatment will open up access to Temodal for newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) patients in New Zealand.

"We worked closely with PHARMAC to ensure that Temodal will soon become available for patients with this very aggressive form of brain cancer. Today we reached the final stage of an agreement with PHARMAC and a standard consultation letter has been issued to the market. We hope to see Temodal funded for GBM patients as early as May 2006."

GBM is the most common brain cancer in adults. Over 100 people are diagnosed with GBM in New Zealand annually. It progresses quickly and is for the majority of patients it is terminal.

"The percentage of Temodal-treated patients surviving for two years after diagnosis is almost two and a half times that of patients who are treated with radiotherapy alone. Temodal is the most significant development in the treatment of newly diagnosed brain cancers in 30 years, since radiation treatment was first introduced."

ENDS

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