The higher price of new cancer drugs is rarely justified

The higher price of new cancer drugs is rarely justified

Most cancer drugs introduced since 2004 provide low added value compared to previously approved medications, but have much higher prices, according to a French study presented at the congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO 2019) currently underway in Barcelona.

«Most of the new cancer drugs had low added value, so doctors and patients shouldn’t assume that just because a drug is new, it’s going to be better» said Marc Rodwin, Suffolk University, Boston (USA), co-author of the study. Researchers calculated the correlation between prices and value of medications for solid tumors registered by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from 2004 to 2017. They found that 48% of drugs had low added value on the ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) and 70% scored equally low on the and Added Therapeutic Benefit Ranking (ASMR). Overall, new drugs were in average 2,500 euro more expensive than their older counterpart, but this price increase price did not correlate with added value.

A second study analysed 63 new drugs for adult solid (46) and hematologic (17) cancers approved by the US Food and Drug Administration from 2009-2017 and approved by the EMA by the end of 2018. Median prices of medications in Europe were 52% lower than those in US. Moreover, clinical benefit, calculated by the American Society of Clinical Oncology Value Framework (ASCO-VF) and the ESMO-MCBS, was not associated with cost, nor with the price differential between two countries. «It is important that drug pricing is aligned with clinical value and that our limited resources are spent on innovative medicines that offer improved outcomes» explained study co-author Kerstin Vokinger, from the University of Zurich (Switzerland).

The Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale  can be easily used in clinical practice to help reimbursement decisions as well as decision making, by helping to determine which drugs offer the greatest benefit for patients: «By showing which drugs are most likely to be worth the higher cost, we can hopefully improve access to the drugs with greatest value so that patients receive standardised, optimal therapy wherever they live» said Barbara Kiesewetter, Medical University of Vienna (Austria) and a member of the ESMO-MCBS Working Group.

Source: https://cancerworld.net/news/the-higher-price-of-new-cancer-drugs-is-rarely-justified/

Anti Cancer Products (Taj Oncology)

Taj Anti Cancer Division is leading manufacturer of generic oncology products and biosimilars. Through its broad portfolio of products in Taj Pharma basket, dedicated oncology subsidiary is most innovative integrated portfolio with focus on affordability of quality products to treat cancer and help patients to see a ray of hope, we constantly strive to make high quality oncology products that offer treatment to cancer patients and improve the overall quality of life by reducing healthcare costs.

About – Taj Oncology

Taj Oncology’s vision is to become a world class player in oncology through excellence in innovation, discovery of new manufacturing processes / drug delivery mechanisms and consistently high quality of production.

We commenced operations in 1994 with the inauguration of our ultra-modern facility for the production of generics and formulations for oncology and other therapeutic applications. We are one of the pioneers in India in lyophilization.

We identified, very early, the need for achieving self – sufficiency in formulations as well as in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) , and our achievements reflect this focus. We launched our (APIs) in year 1994 & now have to our credit a number of new manufacturing processes & drug delivery mechanisms.

We have a manufacturing plant located at Tarapur, Thane in Maharashtra State. This facility meets the current Good Manufacturing Practices norms as laid down by the World Health Organization.

Our marketing spans domestic and overseas operations. With a network across the Indian sub-continent and market penetration in several countries across four continents, we are on our way to meeting our target of reaching out to cancer patients, worldwide.

Taj Pharma Group

A dream for new world Anchored in India and committed to its traditional values of leadership with trust, the Taj Pharma Group is spreading its footprint globally through excellence and innovation.

Each operating company in the group develops its international business as an integral element in an overall strategy, depending on the competitive dynamics of the industry in which it operates. For some businesses a focus on the export market remains the priority. For others it is developing a robust presence in domestic markets given growing population of India. And then there are Group companies, a small but growing number, that have global ambitions; additionally, synchronizing these ventures to cater Indian market remains a priority for growth.

Exports from India remain the cornerstone of the Taj Pharma Group’s international business, but different Taj companies are increasingly investing in assets overseas through Greenfield projects (such as in Spain, Germany, Middle East, Africa, Russia, and CIS Countries), joint ventures (in Sri Lanka, UK) and acquisitions.

While individual Taj companies have differing geographical imperatives, the Taj Pharma Group is focusing on a clutch of priority countries, which are expected to be of strategic importance in the years ahead. The regions are UK, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.

Dr. R.K.Singh, Chairman, Taj Pharmaceuticals Limited, sums up the Taj group’s efforts to internationalize its operations thus: “We hope that a several years from now we will spread our wings far beyond India, that we become a global group, operating in many countries, an Indian business conglomerate that is at home in the world, carrying the same sense of trust that we do today.” We have already progressed on such efforts by our current presence in more than 40 countries.

About Taj Pharma

Taj Pharmaceuticals is the global leader in generics and one of the India’s top ten pharmaceutical companies. Taj Pharma India play a leading role in therapeutic areas such as cancer, virology and transplantation. The combined strengths of Taj Pharma generics and pharmaceuticals businesses, coupled with expertise in the emerging genetic sciences, equip us to develop integrated healthcare solutions and therapeutic approaches tailored to individual patients’ needs. Taj Pharmaceutical’s products and services address the entire healthcare spectrum, from screening for genetic risk factors, to preventing, diagnosing and treating disease, and monitoring the treatment response.

Taj Pharma India delivers a unique contribution to better healthcare. Taj Pharma India aim to reduce suffering and improve health and quality of life of people all around the world. At Taj Pharmaceuticals, Taj Pharma India have pursued this mission with patience, dedication, imagination and skill, for over a century. Taj Pharma vision is to develop targeted medicines and diagnostic tools that combine to offer patients, physicians and payers better, safer, more cost-effective healthcare.

Once again, welcome to Taj Pharmaceuticals, a great company that is translating a great vision into reality – We Innovate Healthcare.

Taj Pharmaceuticals Limited is committed to earning the trust of doctors, patients and customers every day. Taj Pharma colleagues worldwide believe that trust is not easily granted, and that is the reason Taj Pharma India focus each day on becoming a champion for Taj Pharma stakeholders.

During the past ten years, Taj Pharmaceuticals Group has been building a new kind of health care company. Throughout Taj Pharma Group (India), there’s a desire to build long-term relationships with Taj Pharma stakeholders based on mutual confidence. This is evident in many ways. Taj Pharma scientists are earning trust through the discovery and development of innovative, science-based medicines and services that improve the health and overall well-being of people around the world. Taj Pharma sales professionals, marketing teams, colleagues working at Taj Pharma plants and others throughout the organization at all levels of responsibility take each day as a fresh opportunity to earn trust.

All of this takes hard work, sharp execution, integrity and transparency on the part of Taj Pharmaceuticals Group colleagues. Taj Pharma global team is working to sustain and expand innovative new treatments. Taj Pharma India’re determined to do Taj Pharma part to increase access to better health care for all people. And, Taj Pharma India is focused on becoming the best in three key strategic areas: people, products and processes.

Taj Pharma India’re beginning to see the results of Taj Pharma efforts, but believe the best is yet to come. The test of being a true champion is to never give up and to passionately strive for even better outcomes. From Taj Pharma perspective as a health care company, that means helping people around the world live better and live longer.