Targeted cancer treatment
Q: My sister-in-law was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, and she’s taking the targeted therapy Gleevec, which is working unbelievably well. If the A ordable Care Act gets repealed and she gets bounced o the insurance rolls, she could end up paying up to $160,000 per year to stay alive. What can she do? – Agnes D., Lexington, Ky.
A: We’re glad your sister-inlaw found a successful targeted therapy. Gleevec (imatinib) works by destroying a speci c protein that causes the leukemia cells to grow out of control. Some reports say that it’s helped 83 per cent of patients live 10 years or longer.
As for drug costs, NBC News reported that it costs the drug manufacturer, Novartis, $159 to make a one-year supply of Gleevec. When it introduced the drug in 2001, the price tag was $30,000 annually. at price has increased by 10 to 20 per cent every year since then. Now insurance companies can be billed between $140,000 and $160,000 annually. Fortunately, generics have been approved, but that hasn’t dropped prices dramatically, despite the fact one generic sells for around $400 annually in India and $8,800 a year in Canada. Novartis took in $4.7 billion in 2012 from sales of Gleevec, according to e New York Times.
But, for those on Medicare, the price of Gleevec varies depending on what phase of drug coverage they’re in and if they take generic or brand. Insurance coverage through the A ordable Care Act varies from state to state. Corporate insurance plans may have their own deal. In short, it’s a mess.
No wonder most folks don’t understand the insurance debate! In fact, a survey by a nonpartisan digital research company found 45 percent of those questioned didn’t know that if Obamacare was repealed, the ACA also would be repealed.
ey had no idea that ACA and Obamacare were the same thing!
We hope that if the ACA is repealed, there will be someone who can negotiate and make a deal for fair drug prices for the American people. Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness O cer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen at youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.