Herceptin: The debate

The Herceptin debate is not confined to New Zealand.

BBC's Panorama documentary team took a look at the drug's rapid rise in the United Kingdom in a 2006 programme.

The show dismissed much of the hype around the drug's use for early stage breast cancer and asked why scientists were not questioning how effective the drug was.

Panorama said indications Herceptin was not just another drug came in 2005 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, where the latest advances in cancer treatment are presented.

The results of a study on Herceptin use in early stage breast cancer were revealed, with trial data claiming it could halve the recurrence rate.

The trial's lead investigator in the UK, Professor Ian Smith, described it as the biggest development "in terms of the magnitude of its effect", for 25 years.

The media was quick to label Herceptin a "wonder drug" and stories of women denied funding and going to extreme lengths to pay for it flourished.

The Government fast-tracked the drug and eventually told health trusts they should not deny patients Herceptin because of the cost.

But some in the medical world doubted the drug and Britain's influential medical journal The Lancet in particular questioned what was known, saying: "The best that can be said about Herceptin's efficacy and safety is that the available evidence is insufficient to make reliable judgements."

Panorama's show, Wanting the Wonder Drug, also revealed concerns about the statistics, saying what mattered most was how many lives were saved.

But survival data showed no significant improvement at the one year stage.

In an article for Lancet Oncology, Britain's National Institute for Clinical Excellence tested the trial data and argued for every 100 patients prescribed, 94 would be exposed to the side effects without any benefit.

The show also argued the rise of Herceptin pointed to a looming crisis for health authorities.

In the UK the Herceptin bill – which is only one such drug - is already about a quarter of the annual cancer drug bill.

- © Fairfax NZ News