The Economic Impact of the Transition from Branded to Generic Oncology Drugs

Cheung, Winson Y.; Kornelsen, Emily; Mittmann, Nicole; Leighl, Natasha B.; Cheung, Matthew C.; Chan, Kelvin K.; Bradbury, Penelope Ann; Ng, Raymond; Chen, B.E.; Ding, Keyue; Pater, Joseph L.; Tu, Dongsheng; Hay, Annette E.

doi:10.3747/co.26.4395

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…For instance, trastuzumab, one of the drugs in the WHO-EML, should be listed as an essential drug in Thailand based on its substantial benefits and recent availability of biosimilar formulations. Tiered pricing, choosing one drug in each category at the most reasonable price, improving the approval of biosimilar/generic drugs, and using health technology assessments are potential strategies to sustainably overcome disparities in BC treatment [ 14 15 16 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparities in Access to Systemic Treatment for Breast Cancer in Thailand and Major Asian Territories

et al. 2022

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Purpose Breast cancer (BC) treatment has shifted from chemotherapy to targeted therapy. Several targeted agents have demonstrated an improvement in survival. Given that national healthcare resources were correlated with the cancer mortality-to-incidence ratio, we compared access to BC drugs in Thailand with that in other Asian countries. Methods BC experts involved in the Breast International Group (BIG)-Asia in six representative groups for countries or special administrative region (SAR) in Asia (Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Singapore) were invited to participate in the survey. The questionnaire addressed national health reimbursement schemes, molecular testing for early BC (EBC), availability and accessibility of BC drugs. Accessibility and reimbursement of the drugs were reported based on their listing as essential medicines in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines (WHO-EML) and their nomination as effective drugs in the European Society for Medical Oncology-Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS). The study was approved by all participating BIG-Asia organizations in November 2021. Results Genomic tests for EBC were non-reimbursable in all surveyed territories. Reimbursement and co-payment of BC drugs vary between and within these regions (particularly Thailand). Most drugs in the WHO-EML and ESMO-MCBS (A/B for EBC and 4/5 for advanced BC) were accessible in all surveyed territories. However, the accessibility of effective but costly WHO-EML and ESMO-MCBS drugs was not uniform in Thailand. There was an evident disparity for individuals covered by the Thai Social Security/Universal Health Coverage schemes. Conclusion Essential BC drugs are generally accessible in selected BIG-Asia countries or SAR. There is a disparity in accessing high-cost drugs in Thailand compared with other Asian territories.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Disparities in Access to Systemic Treatment for Breast Cancer in Thailand and Major Asian Territories

et al. 2022

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“…These barriers exist despite the fact that India has multiple generic and biosimilar options for the top 20 priority medicines that should promote competition and lower prices. 24 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cancer Medicines: What Is Essential and Affordable in India?

Sengar

Fundytus

Hopman

et al. 2022

JCO Global Oncology

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PURPOSE The WHO essential medicines list (EML) guides selection of drugs for national formularies. Here, we evaluate which medicines are considered highest priority by Indian oncologists and the extent to which they are available in routine practice. METHODS This is a secondary analysis of an electronic survey developed by the WHO EML Cancer Medicine Working Group. The survey was distributed globally using a hierarchical snowball method to physicians who prescribe systemic anticancer therapy. The survey captured the 10 medicines oncologists considered highest priority for population health and their availability in routine practice. RESULTS The global study cohort included 948 respondents from 82 countries; 98 were from India and 67 were from other low- and middle-income countries. Compared with other low- and middle-income countries, the Indian cohort was more likely to be medical oncologist (70% v 31%, P < .001) and work exclusively in the private health system (52% v 17%, P < .001). 14/20 most commonly selected medicines were conventional cytotoxic drugs. Universal access to these medicines was reported by a minority of oncologists; risks of significant out-of-pocket expenditures for each medicine were reported by 19%-58% of oncologists. Risk of catastrophic expenditure was reported by 58%-67% of oncologists for rituximab and trastuzumab. Risks of financial toxicity were substantially higher within the private health system compared with the public system. CONCLUSION Most high-priority cancer medicines identified by Indian oncologists are generic chemotherapy agents that provide substantial improvements in survival and are already included in WHO EML. Access to these treatments remains limited by major financial burdens experienced by patients. This is particularly acute within the private health system. Strategies are urgently needed to ensure that high-quality cancer care is affordable and accessible to all patients in India.

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“…This is especially relevant in the field of oncology, as highlighted in a recent study by Cheung et al ( 3 ). This study concludes that oncology generic medicines could significantly modify the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios of the studied treatments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Analysis of the evolution of the price of oncology drugs after the loss of their patent and the marketing of generic medicines

Martínez-Sesmero

Smith

2022

Grhta

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Background and research question: Loss of exclusivity of oncology drugs causes an important drop in their price due to the marketing of generic medicines. In this article we study how the price of certain oncology drugs evolves throughout time after the loss of their patent, both in terms of the notified price and at a level of the public tenders for the purchase of medicines. Methods: The variation in the price of oral oncology drugs was assessed from the public information provided by the Interministerial Medicinal Products Pricing Committee (Comisión Interministerial de Precios de los Medicamentos, CIPM) and the data from public tenders for the purchase of medicines. Results: The data show a significant drop in price of the medicines assessed after the expiry of their patent, both at a notified price level (70% of average drop in price in 2.6 years) and at the level of the public tenders (drops exceeding 90% in a year for the most innovative drugs). Discussion: The drop in the price of the oncology drugs after the expiry of their patent is seen in all the medicines assessed. The trends seen allow to predict the evolution of the price of another innovative medicine that is nearing the expiry of its patent (Lenalidomide), with an expected drop in price by 90% with respect to the current price of the innovative drug.

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The Economic Impact of the Transition from Branded to Generic Oncology Drugs

Cited by 20 publications

References 20 publications

Disparities in Access to Systemic Treatment for Breast Cancer in Thailand and Major Asian Territories

Disparities in Access to Systemic Treatment for Breast Cancer in Thailand and Major Asian Territories

Cancer Medicines: What Is Essential and Affordable in India?

Analysis of the evolution of the price of oncology drugs after the loss of their patent and the marketing of generic medicines

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