New bevacizumab biosimilar now available

Brain Tumour Support NZ welcomes the introduction of Vegzelma, a new bevacizumab biosimilar, to the New Zealand market. This development provides a more cost-effective treatment option for patients requiring bevacizumab therapy, following the announcement that Roche’s cost share programme for Avastin will be closed to new patients on 1st April 2025.

What is Vegzelma?

Vegzelma is a biosimilar to Avastin (bevacizumab), a targeted therapy used to slow tumour growth by inhibiting blood vessel formation. Biosimilars are highly similar to their reference biologic medicines, with no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, and potency. Approved by Medsafe, Vegzelma offers an alternative treatment option for patients with high grade gliomas, including glioblastoma. Patients who are considering Avastin as a treatment option are now encouraged to discuss Vegzelma with their specialist.

Impact on Patients

The availability of Vegzelma in New Zealand is expected to improve accessibility and affordability for patients who previously would have considered Avastin as a treatment option. However while less expensive than Avastin, Vegzelma is still not funded by Pharmac for the treatment of brain tumours, therefore patients will still have to pay to have it administered through a private clinic.

Furthermore, while the upfront cost of Vegzelma is cheaper than Avastin, the absence of a cost share programme such as that offered by Roche for Avastin, means that patients will need to continue to pay to remain on therapy. Under the Roche cost share programme, patients received the drug for free once they reached an expenditure cap.

At this stage, patients who are currently on Roche’s cost share programme for Avastin will continue to be supported, including those who have reached the expenditure cap and are receiving the drug for free.

What This Means for the Brain Tumour Community

For many individuals living with brain tumours, bevacizumab plays a crucial role in managing symptoms and improving quality of life. The introduction of a biosimilar like Vegzelma offers another possible treatment option with reduced financial strain on patients and their families.

Brain Tumour Support NZ continues to work to have bevacizumab funded for brain tumour patients in New Zealand through the Pharmac process. In the meantime, we remain committed to supporting patients through this transition and ensuring they have access to up-to-date information on treatment options. We encourage anyone affected by these changes to speak with their healthcare providers and reach out to our support network for guidance.