New Cancer Drug Costs More Than $4,200 PER Dose = old drug in a new bottle?

[Guest guest]

New Cancer Drug Costs More Than $4,200 PER Dose

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/New-Cancer-Drug-Costs-More-Than--4-200-PER-Dose-1043.aspx#1043

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dr. Mercola

 

 

 

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October 02, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even in this era of price-gouging miracle drugs, can you imagine anything more insane than charging a cancer patient $4,200 per dose for what amounts to an older drug in a new bottle?

That's precisely the shell game being played by crafty drug marketers like Abraxis BioScience to promote Abraxane as a "major advance" in treating late-stage breast cancer, even though a generic version of the same drug (Taxol) costs 25 times less.

What's more, preying on the fear of cancer patients can even be a wise financial move for drug companies, according to some analysts. Sales of Abraxane are expected to hit $200 million by year's end and could reach $1 billion by 2010.

Imagine all this extra expense for a $4,200 drug that may shrink tumors more effectively than its generic counterpart but doesn't improve a patient's odds of survival. To its credit, a slightly tougher FDA did turn down a proposal from Abraxis to permit the use of Abraxane among early-stage breast cancer patients.

A more sensible, safer and less expensive approach than taking an ineffective, exorbitant drug: Virtually eliminating your cancer risks altogether by following the major recommendations I posted last year.

New York Times October 1, 2006 Registration Required

Wilmington Morning Star October 1, 2006

[Guest guest]

Just another obscenity adding to the list

Hanneke

At 06:17 PM 1/04/2007, you wrote:

New Cancer Drug Costs More Than

$4,200 PER Dose

 

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/New-Cancer-Drug-Costs-More-Than--4-200-PER-Dose-1043.aspx#1043

 

 

POSTED BY

Dr. Mercola

View Dr.

Mercola's Profile

Add Dr. Mercola to Friends

 

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October 02, 2006

 

 

Even in this era of

 

price-gouging miracle drugs, can you imagine anything more insane

than charging a cancer patient $4,200 per dose for what amounts to

an older drug in a new bottle?

That's precisely the shell game being played by crafty drug marketers

like Abraxis BioScience to promote Abraxane as a " major

advance " in treating late-stage breast cancer, even though a generic

version of the same drug (Taxol) costs 25 times less.

What's more, preying on the fear of cancer patients can even be a wise

financial move for drug companies, according to some analysts. Sales

of Abraxane are expected to hit $200 million by year's end and could

reach $1 billion by 2010.

Imagine all this extra expense for a $4,200 drug that may shrink tumors

more effectively than its generic counterpart but

doesn't improve a patient's odds of

survival. To its credit,

 

a slightly tougher FDA did turn down a proposal from Abraxis to

permit the use of Abraxane among early-stage breast cancer

patients.

A more sensible, safer and less expensive approach than taking an

ineffective, exorbitant drug: Virtually eliminating your cancer risks

altogether by following

 

the major recommendations I posted last year.

 

New York Times October 1, 2006 Registration Required

 

 

Wilmington Morning Star October 1, 2006

 

 

 

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