THE wonder drug that saved Ron Walker’s life will be offered to Australia’s sickest melanoma patients after a campaign convinced medical authorities to allow the experimental treatment.
Hailed by oncologists as a miracle treatment, the PD-1 drug will be given free to patients with no other options under a special access program by manufacturer Merck Sharp and Dohme, while clinical trials continue.
Results so far show up to half of advanced melanoma patients receiving the drug known as MK-3475 respond to the treatment, compared with between 10 and 20 per cent using the most effective current treatment, Yervoy.
The Herald Sun has campaigned for the Australian Government to cut red tape and fast-track access to MK-3475 and other cancer drugs.
After pleas from Mr Walker, cancer doctors, support groups and the drug company, the Therapeutic Goods Administration last week approved a limited release of the drug.
The treatment will be granted to a handful of extreme cases each month.
Mr Walker said it was an amazing feeling, knowing others would be given a shot at life.
“Without the drug, I wouldn’t be here – it is absolutely so simple,” Mr Walker said.
“Before I had the drug and I was diagnosed, I had a group of four doctors talk to me and Barbara and the consequences were very clear: it was just a matter of time.
“I was offered the opportunity to be part of the experiment and I seized upon it straight away, and just look at what happened to me.
“It won’t be 100 per cent successful, but it provides people with a chance and that is what they deserve, a chance to get better. Melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer in Australia. It is everywhere, so people deserve to have the latest technology.”
Mr Walker had his lifesaving treatment in the US as part of a clinical trial in early 2013, then personally appealed to his friend Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Health Minister Peter Dutton and drug companies to improve cancer drug access here.
Its Australian release follows a similar move in the US, which came three months too late to save Melbourne-born dad Nick Auden, whose heart-wrenching Save Lachy’s Dad viral campaign raised the plight of victims.
In the US, the development of PD-1 medications was hailed as a breakthrough and fast-tracked by the Food and Drug Administration.
MK-3475 is just one of a number of similar immunotherapy drugs in development that use the immune system to fight cancer.
While trials for melanoma are the most advanced, its incredible impact has seen experiments increased on 30 other cancers.
Prof Grant McArthur, of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, who has led the campaign for access to PD-1 treatment, said the new-generation drugs were changing the direction of how to fight cancer.
“This is a very good first step, but we now have work towards sustained access for all patients who may benefit,” Prof McArthur said.
Merck Sharp and Dohme associate medical director Colin Yoeman said the Special Access Scheme would allow treatment only for patients with advanced stage three or four melanoma that were not suitable for survival treatment, who had been treated with Yervoy.
It is expected the deal will see a handful of new patients offered the drug each month, and all will receive it free.
“This is a new hope for cancer patients in Australia,” Dr Yoeman said.
“The talk that Ron gave to us, there probably wasn’t a dry eye in the house.’’
While thrilled the chance at life will be granted to other Australians, Mr Walker said he would continue pushing to have the medication and other drugs listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
“The most important thing is to make it affordable,” he said. Interested melanoma patients should contact their oncologists.
Source: Herald Sun