Why is it difficult to find out how much newer cancer drugs cost?
I was looking up TARCEVA (erlotinib) which is a pill used for advanced pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer patients. It may add some months of survival time in a minority of people with these very serious malignancies. It seems difficult to find out how much a month of treatment costs. I'm sure it varies, but in this age of health care cost consciousness, this information should be readily accessible. Perhaps I'm not search correctly for this information.
I realize the thinking that "no cost is too great to buy some time," but this is the attitude that may allow pharmaceutical companies to charge excessively without some measure of profit control - greed seeming to be epidemic these days.
"SuperVib" found this easily enough. There is high variability. But his site lists generic prices. I think this information should be included with the product information which is where I searched. The expense might be considered a "side effect." An oncology nurse friend tells me it is more like $4000 per month in the U.S. - cost to patient. That's $133 per pill. If it never cures and helps only a small fraction of people, is this cost effective in a cost conscious nation? Just playing devil's advocate here. I realize everyone in these desperate situations will want this medication, and I would too. But does it really need to be so expensive?
"notalone.." knows first hand about this. The drug company programs to provide meds for non-insured people is a very good reform. I do realize the high research costs involved to come up with new meds. I don't know if there is any regulation of the charges that drug company executives decide upon. It has become more difficult to trust corporate executives with recent revelations in the news.
Note that President Obama and White House Budget Director Peter Orszag have repeatedly stated their commitment to reduce health care costs that have been spiraling out of control in the U.S. So where do we start? I would pay the PhD researchers more and the drug company business executives much less, but that's my bias.