Drug companies are being accused of making high profits from NHSS simply by exploiting the arrangements designed to give them the hope to develop new medicine for some rare diseases all over the world.
Twenty advisors and patients’ groups are distributing open letters to the principal minister, calling for a fair inquiry. They told David Cameron that, apart from discovering new drugs, organizations are in consequence repackaging them to get licenses, thus facilitate them to hike up the price hugely.
Legislation was brought to table by the EU to persuade companies to work out and seek licensed for innovative drugs for what is known or called “stray” illness– those for which there is not a huge market because they are relatively rare. They also need to create active market for all the products and make good quality and addictive to make it sound in the market.
The letter’s signatories stated the change in the regulations has had unintentional consequences. They cite a drug has been in use for the last twenty years and were able to treat at least two rare including muscle diseases. Although it did comprise of a license for that use and purpose, doctors could be able to prescribe it – and they did – at their own authority. It used to go for a cost of around £800 and £1,000 per patient for the whole year.
The manufacturer, whose name is BioMarin, has sought a license where he can be able to supply the drugs all over Europe for what it is a much more steady and dependable description of the drug, which is called Firdapse. It charges around £40,000 to £70,000 per patient for the whole year – which is a 70-fold increase.
The doctrine say there was no valid reason to create a new version and creating one which is far much expensive. “This expensive cost implis first and foremost that some doner which is known as primary care trusts have neglected to make contributions on the drug … which can also means that, when it was funded, there have been no others additional funding source identified, which is a must mean that patients in different sectors are being robbed of NHS funding.
Some other examples that can be used for this include a drug for unceasing myeloid leukaemia which is known as hydroxycarbamide. Doctors used it for sickle cell which is a state for which was not licensed. “In the current financially viable situation, it seems vital to ensure that systems are in place to prevent excessive commercial profits being made at the costs of patients and community spending,” said one of the signatories.
They bring to a close by stating: “Legislation on stray drugs, far and encouraging the growth of new treatments for stray diseases, is severely limiting the availability of existing treatments. We strongly believe that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Department of Health should not only state the rules but should be able to act now … to instigate change”.
