Health and Healthcare
Are Cancer Drugs Becoming Too Costly for Their Effectiveness?
Published:
Last Updated:
For example, Alimta, from Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY), is the patented version of pemetrexed, a best-selling lung cancer treatment. Just on Thursday Eli Lilly won a patent ruling in Lonadon that offers protection through June 2021 for a drug cocktail including Alimta that was scheduled to lose that protection in several European countries in December. Alimta posted global sales of $2.79 billion in 2014 and is Eli Lilly’s biggest seller.
On a scale of 0 to 100 (or 130 if bonus points are added), the cocktail including Alimta scored a net health benefit of 0 — as in nada, zip, zilch. And for that treatment a patient pays $9,200 a month.
Bevacizumab, the generic name for Avastin from Swiss giant Roche, is another lung cancer drug. Avastin costs $11,900 a month and scored 16 on the ASCO scorecard.
ALSO READ: Is Big Pharma Advertising Getting Out of Control?
Another high cost cancer treatment, Jevtana from Sanofi (NYSE: SNY), costs $10,700 a month and gets a net health benefit score of 16. The drug, in combination with prednisone, is used to treat prostate cancer.
A drug’s score may vary, depending on the type of cancer being treated. Avastin, according to a report at FiercePharma, which was first approved to treat colorectal cancer, has better overall survival data in that disease, but the examples provided by ASCO did not include the field.
ASCO’s president said:
Value and cost are among the biggest issues in healthcare today, but there are few tools to help doctors and patients objectively assess benefits, side effects and costs. Our goal is to help oncologists and their patients weigh potential treatment options based on high-quality scientific evidence and a thoughtful assessment of each patient’s needs and goals.
The ASCO Value Framework article is available here.
ALSO READ: 4 Health Care Stocks That Are Very Likely Buyout Targets
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.