Generic Herceptin copy still too costly in India

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 695, p10 - 1 Feb 2014 Generic Herceptin copy still too costly in India Even priced at 25% less than Roche’s Herceptin, a new generic – or biosimilar – version of trastuzumab [Canmab] will still be too expensive for most people at more than 15 times the per capita monthly income in India. Starting next month, a cheaper version of Roche’s eight-year-old drug will be available, manufactured by India-based Biocon Ltd in partnership with US partner Mylan Inc. However, despite the fact that Roche abandoned their Indian patent, the listing price for the new version is not much less than the price patients currently pay for an off-brand Herceptin [Herclon] that Roche has sold in partnership with an Indian drug-maker since 2012. Leena Menghaney, a lawyer working with Indian patients to gain affordable access to trastuzumab, says that the lower price looks good, "but when you actually start calculating, it’s a high price for treatment". Menghaney’s group is calling on the Indian government to intervene and make Biocon reduce the price to less than Re5000 * per vial, rather than the Re19 500–57 500 they intend to charge. However, even discounted from its maximum price, it will still be out of reach for the majority of women in India, says Menghaney. * Indian rupees Kresge N, et al. Roche Herceptin Copy’s Price Still Out of Reach in India. Internet Document : 20 Jan 2014. Available from: URL: http:// www.bloomberg.com 803098902 1 PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 1 Feb 2014 No. 695 1173-5503/14/0695-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2014 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

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Transcript of Generic Herceptin copy still too costly in India

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 695, p10 - 1 Feb 2014

Generic Herceptin copy still toocostly in India

Even priced at 25% less than Roche’s Herceptin, anew generic – or biosimilar – version of trastuzumab[Canmab] will still be too expensive for most people atmore than 15 times the per capita monthly income inIndia.

Starting next month, a cheaper version of Roche’seight-year-old drug will be available, manufactured byIndia-based Biocon Ltd in partnership with US partnerMylan Inc. However, despite the fact that Rocheabandoned their Indian patent, the listing price for thenew version is not much less than the price patientscurrently pay for an off-brand Herceptin [Herclon] thatRoche has sold in partnership with an Indian drug-makersince 2012.

Leena Menghaney, a lawyer working with Indianpatients to gain affordable access to trastuzumab, saysthat the lower price looks good, "but when you actuallystart calculating, it’s a high price for treatment".

Menghaney’s group is calling on the Indiangovernment to intervene and make Biocon reduce theprice to less than Re5000* per vial, rather than theRe19 500–57 500 they intend to charge. However, evendiscounted from its maximum price, it will still be out ofreach for the majority of women in India, saysMenghaney.* Indian rupees

Kresge N, et al. Roche Herceptin Copy’s Price Still Out of Reach in India. InternetDocument : 20 Jan 2014. Available from: URL: http://www.bloomberg.com 803098902