New results from clinical trial NATALEE show that CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib (brand name Kisqali) reduced the rate of relapse and improved overall survival when given in addition to endocrine therapy to women with HR-positive HER2-negative early breast cancer. The survival benefits of CDK4/6 inhibitors to women with advanced breast cancer of this subtype are already well-known. New Zealand funds two of these (ribociclib and palbociclib (Ibrance)) for women with advanced breast cancer but none for those with early breast cancer. Earlier research had already shown that anotherCDK4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib (Verzenio), reduces the risk of relapse when given to ‘high-risk’ women with early HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer, but the ribociclib trial shows that this benefit extends to those with ‘intermediate’ risk of relapse as well. Risk status depends on how large the tumour is and how many lymph nodes are involved.
Around 74% of all NZ breast cancer cases are HR-positive HER2-negative. Recurrence remains a possibility with this sub-type for up to 20 years after diagnosis and treatment. Standard treatment involves surgery and chemotherapy followed by several years of endocrine therapy. Each year, about 1,000 to 1,500 NZ women with intermediate to high risk of recurrence could benefit from adding CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment to this regime.
The United Kingdom has funded CDK4/6 inhibitors for early breast cancer since 2022 and Australia since 2024. In NZ Pharmac has received applications to fund ribociclib and abemaciclib for early breast cancer but, despite positive recommendations from their expert Cancer Treatments Advisory Committee, has yet to make a decision on either.
“These medicines offer the best chance of curing the cancer while it is early stage and preventing it from becoming advanced and incurable” says BCAC Chair Libby Burgess.
Libby and patient Jo Prendergast spoke to Radio NZ’s Kathryn Ryan about this on 6 November 2026. Listen to their interview here.
6 November 2026
