18/02/2026
We were proud to host Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown MP at Bowen Icon Cancer Centre yesterday as they welcomed a new proposal from Pharmac to fund two combination therapies for people living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a type of blood cancer.
The proposal includes funding venetoclax with ibrutinib, and venetoclax with obinutuzumab, as first-line treatment from 1 May 2026.
If approved, these treatments could help patients achieve longer-lasting remission, reduce the need for traditional chemotherapy, and potentially decrease hospital visits. The proposal also aims to reduce disruption and stress for patients already accessing these treatments privately by allowing them to continue care in private hospitals if they meet funding criteria.
This marks another step toward improving access to cancer treatments and supporting better outcomes for patients and their whānau across New Zealand.