Study: $3B Will Be Wasted on Unused Portion of Cancer Drugs

Although the FDA has not commented on this article, the team has explored an unseen area of
drug costing. With the CEOs raising the costs from double digit to 3-4 digits, the government,
insurers are finding ways to reduce the health burden on the patients as well as on the
government itself.
Basically areas like cancer, COPD are the diseases that are killing lots and lots of people
worldwide. With respect to cancer, there is no proper formulation which can target the cancer
cell from the normal cell. Our cell-biology studies have highlighted some differences between
the two, which is not sufficient to design a target medication.
There is no cure for cancer. Out of hope, patients are penalized with high costs for these
medicaments. In addition to the bills, they have to bear the side-effects as well as incurable
conditions and drug resistance.
This study shows that the conditions are even pathetic. British Medical Journal published this
study in stating that out of 20 drugs for multiple cancer types packaged in single dose vials, 1 to
33% of those cancer drugs remains in vials after each dose is administered. Although this is not
used by the patient, he has to pay the bill. This wastage is mentioned to be 10% of their expected
U.S. sale i.e $1.84 billion.
Bach, director of Memorial Sloan Ketterings center for health policy and outcomes criticized the
cost of cancer costs $15,000 per month or more, still incurable.
Few examples like Amgen Inc.s myeloma drug Kyprolis, wastage worth $231 million of the
total production of $667 million. Merck & Co.s Melanoma drug Keytruda switched the vial
contents from 50mg to 100 mg vials, results in wastage shift from 10mg to 60mg, boosting
Mercks revenue from leftover Keytruda from $500 to $3000 per patient dose.
Companies have to study the wastage reduction methods and FDA has to encourage the study
and reduce this burden on patients. There is a potential draw back that sharing is allowed within
6 hours after vial is opened to ensure the medicines sterility. Research on the formulation side
and primary package designing side should be encouraged to overcome this 6 hour barrier,
particularly for costly drugs and anti-biotics.