E-DRUG: Cancer drugs & costs
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This item was in the latest issue of Technology Review, and is
accompanied by charts with references (which can be viewed on web
page) on:
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/09/issue/datamine.asp
- US Cancer research pipeline by stage ( says that almost 5000 drugs are
now being researched or have recently been released)
- New drug strategies ( per 5 types of cancer)
- US cancer treatment research pipeline ( for 10 types of cancer, top 2
being for prostate & breast)
- Cost of cancer drugs ( of 6 new therapies that cost between $15,000-
$65,000 per 6 mo. course)
- Approval of new cancer drugs drops ( since the 90s, for novel therapies
based on new molecules)
- Global cancer drug therapy revenues ( "the market for cancer drugs is
expected to double by the end of the decade")
An interesting snapshot, although the info offered is general, and the
closing statement could be interpreted as either accepting the status
quo or as a call to action.
[copied as fair use]
Data Mine: Treating Cancer
By Stacy Lawrence September 2005
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/05/09/issue/datamine.asp
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States,
surpassed only by heart disease. But recent technological developments
offer the hope of new and better ways to combat the disease.
For many of the most pervasive types of cancer, about half of the drug
candidates furthest along in the research pipeline use approaches
other than that of traditional cytotoxic drugs, which work by killing
cells or preventing their division.
With continuing advances in the development of therapies like
monoclonal antibodies and tumor vaccines, biotechnology should account
for a growing portion of the cancer drug market, which may reach $80
billion a year by 2009.
As costs soar and reimbursement wanes, though, many patients are
unlikely to reap the benefits of some of the most promising of these
developments.
--
Joana Ramos, MSW
Cancer Resources & Advocacy
7303 23rd Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98115
206-229-2420
http://ramoslink.info/
Joana Ramos <joaninha@comcast.net>