FDA Approves Advanced Breast Cancer Drug
FDA Approves Advanced Breast Cancer Drug
The FDA yet again shows that their drug approval process has no consistency. This new breast cancer drug from Glaxo Smith Kline was approved without any data showing it improved patient survival. I'm in favor of the FDA approving more drugs, but how can they approve this drug a week after putting a black box warning on an entire drug family due to media hype over a very small trial (erythropoiesis-stimulating agents)?
Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 5:30pm. | Tags: Life Science | News
Yeah, that may explain why it could be free :)
" But it is not clear how insurers will cover the drug's $2,900 monthly cost, especially for older patients in the nation's Medicare program. Infused cancer drugs are covered under Medicare, but not pills, which fall under the program's voluntary prescription drug coverage plans.
A Glaxo spokeswoman said it will give Tykerb free to patients with incomes at or below 500 percent of the poverty level, or about $68,450 for a family of two."