New Cancer Drug Approved in New Zealand After Trial Success

After ten years battling multiple myeloma, Sue Roylance finally found a treatment that changed everything about how she viewed her future.

The 81-year-old New Zealander joined a clinical trial for belantamab mafodotin, a new blood cancer drug that recently received approval from Medsafe. The treatment works by sneaking into cancer cells and destroying them from the inside, earning it the nickname "Trojan horse" from scientists.

"It has had quite an effect on my life because over time it has given me the confidence to feel that I have a bit more of a future," Sue said. She and her husband Peter, who keeps spirits high with humor during their decade-long journey, represent thousands of Kiwis who could benefit from this advancement.

The clinical trial results show real promise. Patients using belantamab mafodotin alongside other treatments experienced about three years of progression-free survival, compared to just one year with standard treatment alone.

Dr. Rodger Tiedemann, a consultant haematologist, called the results significant. "It can certainly extend patients' lives," he said, noting the drug added about two extra years before the disease progressed.

For Nichola Oakenfull, diagnosed at just 41, treatments like this represent crucial hope. Multiple myeloma remains incurable, meaning patients cycle through different drugs as each one eventually stops working. "Patients can take a drug for a period of time and then discover it is no longer working," Sue explained.

The Bright Side

Medsafe's approval marks real progress in bringing cutting-edge treatments to New Zealand patients faster than before. Associate Health Minister David Seymour pointed to new pathways designed to speed up medicine approvals, with Medsafe granting approvals faster each year.

The treatment joins a growing arsenal of options for multiple myeloma patients, who previously faced limited choices when their current medications stopped working. Having more tools available means doctors can offer patients new possibilities when they need them most.

Sue's experience in the trial already proves what's possible when patients access innovative treatments early. Her renewed confidence and extended quality of life show the human impact behind the regulatory approval.

Up to 2,500 New Zealanders living with multiple myeloma now have reason to hope this scientific breakthrough will reach them soon.