india's historic move to make drugs affordable

Cancer is a word that no one wants to hear associated with them, no matter what kind of cancer. Historically, cancer treatments have been expensive, have bankrupted families, and caused a great deal of emotional and financial pain for the patient and the patient’s family.

There is a recent ray of hope, however. India is looking to put a stop to cancer, even for those who can’t afford treatment.

Nexavar (Sorafenib) Uses

Simply stated, this drug is used to treat two types of cancer — a type that starts in the kidneys, called “advanced renal cell carcinoma,” and a type of inoperable liver cancer, called “unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.” This therapy slows the spread of cancer cells, and is in a class of drugs known as,

“Multikinase Inhibitors.”

This treatment, produced in brand name form by Bayer, is an expensive, patented treatment that costs approximately $5,600 US Dollars for a month’s worth of treatment. This price is often well out of the range of most people, especially those without insurance.

India’s Compulsory License Provision

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has a provision for something called a compulsory license, which means that any country can grant permission to a manufacturer to produce a patented medication without the consent of the owner of the patent. That means that a manufacturer can produce the same medication at a much lower cost.

In this case, India has been given permission to go ahead and manufacture Sorafenib for the treatment of liver and kidney cancer, which is a serious health crisis throughout the country. Under this compulsory license, the country’s manufacturers will be able to produce generic Nexavar for only $180 cost for a month’s supply. That’s $5,420 US Dollars LESS than the brand price. This means that just about anyone could afford cancer treatment.

Cancer Treatment at a Much Lower Cost

This huge cost-savings is a big relief for many people facing kidney or liver cancer. They will not have to decide between life-saving treatment or basic life needs. At a cost difference of $65,040 per year, cancer treatment will be suddenly attainable by a larger population. This is exciting news — not only for an effective cancer treatment, but for an effective cancer treatment that most people actually can afford.

Prescriptionpoint.com is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Always consult a doctor before beginning a new health care regimen.

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