Novartis: leukemia drug Gleevec China's most expensive

Late last year the country's first overseas purchasing drugs into the criminal cases concern. Chronic myeloid leukemia patients Lu Yong from the use of credit cards online shopping, helping thousands of patients to buy generic cancer drugs overseas, "Gleevec" Hunan Province Yuanjiang City Procuratorate on suspicion of "the crime of obstruction credit card management," and "selling counterfeit crime" prosecution. However, more than 300 patients with leukemia signed a letter requesting the judiciary to Lu Yong exempted from criminal punishment.

According to Lu Yong, the reason for buying overseas, "Gleevec" generic drugs, because the efficacy of the same, but the price difference at home and abroad too. For the treatment of leukemia drug prices abroad and usage, People in countries reporter visited the local pharmacy to investigate.

Genuine anti-cancer drug Gleevec: Nearly half of the United States cheap

Known as the "miracle cancer drug" Glivec (Gleevec) is internationally recognized as the first-line treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia drug, can effectively prolong the lives of patients, but patients need long-term use, the monthly box (120, Each capsule 100mg).

According to the survey, by Novartis (Novartis) production of Gleevec in the price of a pack of about 23000-25800 yuan mainland China in recent years to price stability, rarely reduced. The price of a pack together in Hong Kong, China RMB 17,000-19,000 yuan, the US price of about 13,600 yuan / box.

Reporters learned visits, mainstream pharmacies in Australia were also sold by Novartis Gleevec, because prescription drugs are the drug, it must hold a doctor's prescription to purchase. Australia sells about 10,616 yuan per box, while local residents Medicare price is only 188.5 yuan.

Novartis' Gleevec produced in Japan are more expensive anti-cancer drugs, priced at about 16,440 yuan per box, in the case of health insurance, priced at 6240 yuan per box. It is understood that Novartis Glivec in Japan's annual sales could reach 40 billion yen (about RMB 2 billion).

South Korea, "For health community pharmacists will" and "Health World website" and other citizen groups have advocated Gleevec price should drop 37.5-96.7%, Novartis side has said: "In more than 30 countries in the world, Korea is Gleevec countries with the lowest price. "currently, Gleevec in Korea pack retails for 9720 yuan.

The survey found that in the world to sell Novartis Gleevec, China's highest price, up to pack more than 10,000 yuan higher than Korea.

"Mainland Chinese drug prices more expensive than abroad, this is a common phenomenon, our drugs are cheaper than the mainland." Chinese Hospital Association Deputy Secretary-General Zhuang Yiqiang interview, said the Swiss drug in the United States and China are subject to patent protection, but nearly half of the United States cheaper than China. This reflects the inflated pricing of Chinese medicines. In addition, China has an import duty of imported drugs, plus the cost of intermediate circulation, so the price is high.

"Chinese tariffs on imported drugs is usually 5-8 percent, China is a sub-system drug sales, if they go into the hospital, but also to add 15 points. That's why overseas purchasing very fire." An industry source revealed to the media.

Assistance programs have little "generic" India sought

In China the price of twenty thousand yuan a box of Novartis Gleevec, for most people is undoubtedly astronomical. South Korean civic groups have been calling Novartis drug prices down: "Novartis has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in total R & D cost price of Gleevec was identified as higher than normal levels, greatly affected the health insurance ruling, it must be. down. "

In response, Novartis indicated that they had implemented a price reduction or aid projects in many countries. Began in September 2003, Novartis has tried to reduce drug prices, launch global aid projects (GIPAP) patients in China, launched the "buy three get nine" and other promotions. But even so, a genuine patients taking Gleevec, still need to spend at least a year is about 70,000 yuan.

Due to the need of long-term medication, Novartis high drug prices so the majority of chronic leukemia patients can not afford. Therefore, many patients China, directly or indirectly purchase a generic pharmaceutical company Novartis Gleevec "generic" from India (commonly known as India's "Gleevec").

Compared with the Novartis drug genuine Indian generics biggest feature is effective and reliable, the price close to the people, ordinary people can afford to buy - generic patient through direct purchase of Indian pharmaceutical companies, the price is only 200 yuan per box, only hundredth Novartis formal import drugs.

Korea Leukemia Association has held India and Switzerland two kinds of Gleevec do comparison testing, the results show the similarity of 99.9% potency. From the cost point of view, the Indian generic drug has a considerable advantage, but the biggest problem is that India did not get the approval of Gleevec Chinese State Drug Administration departments, in theory is "fake."

These so-called "fake", actually approved in India, is legitimate "real medicine." India's patent protection law is relatively loose, and the Indian government also needed to implement a "compulsory license" and therefore can produce large amounts of generic anti-cancer drugs. In 2006, Novartis has sued the Government of India and the Patent Office, but ultimately lost.

Novartis Glivec in China before the patent expires, there is no similar Chinese-made generic drugs, after 2013, China's domestic generics JCTT and Stockhausen medicine market. CTTQ Gleevec price 4200 yuan a box, Stockhausen pharmacy Gleevec price 3800 yuan a box, prices are still much higher than India's $ 200 per box Gleevec.

For the majority of patients, on the one hand, can not be replaced as a treatment for leukemia drug Gleevec choice, stretching the patient's life cycle, providing a "life" possible; but on the other hand, the genuine medicine in China twenty Multiple box price, the majority of patients unable to afford, had to turn to for help, "fake."

Yang patients in a joint letter wrote: "Imported Gleevec expensive, not afford to eat like a die, the Indian generic drugs appear only increases the courage to live, please give some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia way out of it, people-oriented only is the right way. "

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