Some cancer patients go without drugs because of high cost

May 21 2011

Two news outlets reported on issues involving the cost of drugs.

National Journal: Some Patients Dump Lifesaving Cancer Drugs Because Of Cost
New targeted pills can have dramatic effects on cancer, not only driving the disease into remission but also freeing patients from hours of uncomfortable and boring chemotherapy treatments. Up to 10 percent of patients, however, are not filling their prescriptions for the pills--and cost appears to be a factor, according to a new report. The higher the co-pay for a cancer pill, the less likely patients were to fill their prescriptions, the team at advisory company Avalere Health found (Fox, 5/19).

NPR's Shots blog: Big Pharma's Golden Age Leads To Generics Windfall
Three-quarters of prescriptions these days are filled with a generic. And the proportion keeps climbing. Later this year ... [c]holesterol-fighter Lipitor, the best-selling prescription medicine in the world, will lose U.S. patent protection, clearing the way for legal, inexpensive copies. ... If your health insurance covers prescription drugs, you'll have a lower copay for a generic versus a brand-name drug. The exact savings would depend on the particulars of the plan, but could easily hit $20 or $30 a month (Hensley, 5/19).