Drug guidance
Review of cancer drugs for previously treated advanced gastric cancer
5 October 2026
Condition
Cancer
Gastrointestinal tract
Published on 04 Jan 2022
Last Updated on 05 Oct 2026
Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
Nivolumab 40 mg/4 mL, 100 mg/10 mL and 240 mg/24 mL concentrate for solution for infusion for treating patients with unresectable locally advanced or recurrent gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma after two or more prior systemic therapies in line with the following criteria:
Patients must not have received prior treatment with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor for unresectable locally advanced or recurrent gastric or GEJ cancer; and
Nivolumab should be given as a weight-based dose up to a maximum of 240 mg every two weeks or 480 mg every four weeks.
Subsidy status
Nivolumab 40 mg/4 mL and 100 mg/10 mL concentrate for solution for infusion are recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indication with effect from 1 September 2022. MAF is extended to nivolumab 240 mg/24 mL concentrate for solution for infusion for the abovementioned indication with effect from 1 December 2026.
MAF assistance does not apply to any formulations or strengths of pembrolizumab, ramucirumab, regorafenib or trifluridine/tipiracil when used for previously treated advanced gastric cancer.
Clinical indications, subsidy class and MediShield Life claims eligibility for all drugs included in the evaluation are provided in the Annex.