Free breast cancer treatment to reach 100 patients
A new HK$10 million initiative in Hong Kong will provide free breast cancer treatment to 100 eligible patients, offering a two-year supply of CDK4/6 inhibitors to people with early-stage hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer.
The Greater China Cancer Foundation (GCCF) announced the programme on Thursday during a ceremony marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The initiative is designed to help patients continue recommended treatment while reducing the financial strain that can accompany long-term cancer care.
The programme, known as the “New” Drugs for Use in Hong Kong•Free Named-Patient Programme, is being supported by a HK$10 million medicine donation from Hengrui Pharma.
For patients who qualify, the value of the programme goes beyond the cost of the medicine. A two-year treatment course can represent a substantial financial commitment for a family already dealing with hospital visits, medical expenses and the disruption caused by cancer. The new scheme aims to remove that cost from the equation.
Patients will not have to purchase the medication themselves. Once a public hospital doctor confirms that a patient meets the medical requirements and submits an application to the GCCF, approved patients will be able to collect their medication directly from the hospital pharmacy.
Who can receive the free treatment?
The programme is aimed at a specific group of breast cancer patients rather than all people diagnosed with the disease.
Eligible applicants must have early-stage hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer and must be receiving treatment at a public hospital in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Cancer Registry says more than half of breast cancer cases diagnosed in the city fall into the HR-positive and HER2-negative category.
The age profile of these patients is also significant. About 60 percent of these diagnoses occur in women aged 65 or below.
That means a large proportion of affected women may still be working, supporting children or caring for other family members when they receive their diagnosis. Treatment can affect not only their health but also their income, responsibilities at home and ability to maintain their normal routines.
The risk does not necessarily end when initial treatment is completed. Around 20 percent of HR+ and HER2- early-stage breast cancer patients may face potential recurrence, according to data cited by the programme organisers.
That risk is one reason doctors may recommend additional treatment after initial therapy.
Why are CDK4/6 inhibitors being offered?
CDK4/6 inhibitors are a class of medicines used in the treatment of certain hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. They work by blocking proteins involved in cell division, helping to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells.
The Hong Kong Breast Oncology Group (HKBOG) cited findings from several large clinical studies showing that combining a CDK4/6 inhibitor with endocrine therapy can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence or breast cancer-related death in appropriate patients.
The new programme will therefore focus on patients whose doctors consider this type of treatment suitable.
The treatment is not intended as a replacement for medical assessment. Instead, it provides eligible patients with access to medication that their doctors have determined they may benefit from.
That distinction is important because breast cancer treatment varies according to the patient's tumour characteristics, stage of disease, previous treatment and overall medical condition.
Hengrui Pharma donates HK$10 million in medicine
Hengrui Pharma is providing HK$10 million worth of medication for the initiative.
The company said its donated medicine is the first domestically developed CDK4/6 inhibitor on the Chinese mainland to complete large-scale Phase III clinical trials and receive approval from the National Medical Products Administration.
Karen Atkin, head of Global Business and Portfolio Strategy at Hengrui Pharma, said the company's work is centred on scientific innovation and a patient-focused approach.
She said the partnership with the GCCF would help more patients gain access to medicines and receive treatment that could otherwise place additional financial pressure on them and their families.
The donation is being used specifically for the charitable programme, allowing the GCCF to provide eligible patients with a full two-year supply of the medicine.
GCCF has already helped more than 200 patients
The new breast cancer programme builds on the GCCF's existing work supporting patients who face financial difficulties while undergoing treatment.
Eric Cheng, founder and board chairman of the GCCF, said the foundation had helped more than 200 patients over the past year or so through its dual-track drug subsidy programme.
That assistance has helped patients continue treatment while giving them the opportunity to spend more time with their families, he said.
For cancer patients, the cost of medication can become an ongoing concern rather than a single expense. Treatment may continue for months or years, while families may simultaneously face reduced income, transport costs and other expenses associated with regular hospital care.
The new initiative addresses one part of that problem by covering the cost of a prescribed treatment for two years.
How to apply for the free breast cancer medicine
Patients do not need to complete a complicated independent application before speaking to their doctors.
The process begins with an assessment by an attending doctor at a public hospital. If the doctor determines that a patient meets the programme's medical requirements, the application will be submitted directly to the GCCF.
Once the application receives approval, the patient can collect the medication directly from the pharmacy at the public hospital.
The process is intended to make access easier for patients who are already dealing with the demands of cancer treatment.
The programme will support 100 patients on a first-come, first-served basis. That means eligible patients should not wait until all places have been filled before discussing the programme with their medical team.
The GCCF will publish further information and registration updates through its website.
A limited opportunity for eligible patients
The HK$10 million initiative does not cover every type of breast cancer or every patient receiving treatment in Hong Kong. Its focus is specifically on early-stage HR+ and HER2- breast cancer patients who meet the programme's requirements.
But for those who qualify, the two-year medication support could significantly reduce the financial burden associated with ongoing treatment.
With only 100 places available, patients who believe they may qualify should speak with their public hospital doctor and follow the GCCF's registration updates rather than waiting until the programme reaches capacity.
Could free two-year treatment help more Hong Kong breast cancer patients stay on the medicines recommended by their doctors?