certain spring
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Another episode in the fascinating saga of patented cancer drugs vs cheaper generics – the Indian supreme court has denied Novartis the right to re-patent Glivec (alternative spelling “Gleevec”), a drug used in chronic myeloid leukaemia and some other cancers:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21991179
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/business/global/top-court-in-india-rejects-novartis-drug-patent.html
This comes after similar court battles over patent rights to Iressa (gefitinib) and Nexavar (sorafenib).
49-year-old non-smoker, dx stage IV NSCLC May 2010 (squamous tumour of the left lung with multiple brain metastases). Radiotherapy to chest and brain; progressed through two cycles carbo/gemcitabine. Repeated lung collapses; pneumonia in collapsed lung, Nov 2010; bronchial stent placed, Dec 2010. Declined second-line Taxotere. Mutation testing Feb 2011, surprise EGFR exon deletion 19. Started Tarceva (150mg), Feb 2011. Progression in liver and elsewhere, May 2013.
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catdander forum moderator
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Thank you certain spring for the articles. India seems to be on the forefront of challenging pharma companies for re-patenting for small changes.
Their bootleg targeted drugs have been discussed several times. Though I don’t recall anyone coming forward with knowledge of their efficacy.
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Dr West
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I think they are presumed to be similarly if not definitively comparable in efficacy, but they don’t tend to be formally tested as such. Unfortunately, these issues are very complicated, since the costs of these drugs are so astronomical that the need for less expensive alternatives is very obvious.
-Dr. West
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Dr West 5 years, 3 months ago.
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