Data on trastuzumab emtansine and pertuzumab

Thank you for your request dated 2 October 2023 under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) for information relating to trastuzumab emtansine and pertuzumab. You requested:

Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) 

• The number of Special Authority approvals for Kadycla (trastuzumab emtansine) for the treatment of early breast cancer, reported by individual month and year from July 2022 to 2023 (YTD).
• The number of mg dispensed each day for each person who received Kadycla (trastuzumab emtansine) for the treatment of early breast cancer from July 2022 to 2023 (YTD). Please include the following fields or equivalent fields (as previously received for Tecentriq in the attached):
  • Patient Id
  • Chemical Name
  • Indication
  • Date dispensed
  • Quantity (mg)
  • Prev dispensed date
  • Days between dispensing
• The number of Special Authority approvals - initiations and continuations - for Kadycla (trastuzumab emtansine) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, reported by individual month and year from 2020 to 2023 (YTD).
• The number of mg dispensed each day for each person who received Kadycla (trastuzumab emtansine) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer from 2020 to 2023 (YTD). Please include the following fields or equivalent fields (as previously received for Tecentriq in the attached):
  • Patient Id
  • Chemical Name
  • Indication
  • Date dispensed
  • Quantity (mg)
  • Prev dispensed date
  • Days between dispensing

Perjeta (pertuzumab)

• The number of Special Authority approvals - initiations and continuations - for Perjeta (pertuzumab) for the treatment of mBC, reported by individual month from 2020 to 2023 (YTD).
• The number of mg dispensed each day for each person who received Perjeta (pertuzumab) for the treatment of mBC from 2020 to 2023 (YTD). Please include the following fields or equivalent fields (as previously received for Tecentriq in the attached):
  • Patient Id
  • Chemical Name
  • Indication
  • Date dispensed
  • Quantity (mg)
  • Prev dispensed date
  • Days between dispensing

Please find in the attached spreadsheet the requested information. Where information is not included it has been withheld under Section 9(2)(a) of the Act to protect the privacy of individuals.

In this instance we have assessed that dispensing data by day and month could be matched with other information in the public domain that could potentially identify patients. Pharmac is committed to the safe handling and storing of patient information and unfortunately is unable to release the requested data in full. In addition, where patient numbers are <6 this information is also withheld.

In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of the Act. No public interest has been identified that would be sufficient to override the reasons for withholding that information.

Please note, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman about our response to your OIA, under section 28(3) of the OIA. Details of how to make a complaint(external link) are on the Ombudsman’s website.

To make information more freely available, we may publish selected OIA responses (excluding personal details) on our website. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about this.