pharmacy at the Western General Hospital June 9, 2006 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The drug is to be made available on the NHS in Scotland for all women with early forms of breast cancer. . That’s about how long most drug companies have to make serious money on new products before their patent protection ends. Then, generic companies enter the fray and prices, typically, plummet.
Yet, two decades after coming to market, Herceptin was still priced at over $70,000 per patient. How did it remain so expensive for so long? And what happened recently to bring the price down almost 60%?Many common drugs are small molecules—products like aspirin and angina pills—the product of relatively simple chemical reactions. A formula, a lab full of beakers and pipettes, and a competent scientist is on her way to manufacturing a generic drug.
To bring a generic drug to market, companies might take two years perfecting their manufacturing processes, and could spend a couple million dollars proving that its chemical is equivalent to the brand-names drug. By contrast, it takes 6-9 years to bring biosimilar drugs to market, often at a cost of. Consequently, it is hard for companies to enter the market with biosimilars, even after the original manufacturer’s patent expires.
Lacking competition, Herceptin brought its manufacturer more than $300 million in annual sales in the United States in 2007, almost 20 years after coming to market. That revenue reflects two things: the drug was effective, and the price was high.Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Friday, September 27Eventually, a few brave companies proved that they, too, could successfully manufacture the molecule, which goes by the generic name of trastuzumab.
It is still a very expensive treatment. But, if you or a loved one need Herceptin/trastuzumab, it is good to know that your doctor should be able to find a relatively affordable version of the drug. The healthcare market is finally becoming competitive enough to drive down the price of this life-saving chemotherapy.Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.