MUMBAI (Reuters) - Cheap generic drugs were meant to change the life of Nandakhu Nissar, whose mouth is swollen by a cancerous tumor. But the cashless and hungry 55-year-old sleeps on a pavement staring up at the windows of Mumbai's biggest cancer hospital. "What is a generic drug?" shrugs Nissar, who has travelled over 1,500 km (900 miles) from his home in the hope of treatment. "I have borrowed money from friends and relatives and it is running out fast," says Nissar, his pale eyes filling with tears. A ruling this week that for the first time allowed an Indian drugmaker to make and sell a blockbuster cancer drug at a fraction of the market price has been hailed as a breakthrough by campaigners for cheaper medicine in the emerging economy. The generic version of the drug, German drugmaker Bayer's Nexavar, will be produced under what is known as a compulsory license, available to nations to issue in certain cases where life-saving treatments are unaffordable. Yet no amount of compulsory licenses will help the millions of poor Indians suffering from diseases like cancer, because even the generic version of Nexavar will be priced beyond the reach of India's poor, experts … Continue reading →

Editor's Choice Main Category: Cancer / Oncology Article Date: 17 Mar 2012 - 13:00 PDT email to a friend printer friendly opinions Current Article Ratings: 5 (2 votes) 3.67 (3 votes) The authors determined that 23-74% of patients were taking 1 of 9 oral cancer drugs along with another medication which had the power to take away the strength of the cancer drug, and increase the dangers of it. The cancer drugs which the researchers studied are called oral kinase inhibitors. They included: "Whats as important is knowing what other medications the patient is on. The fact that about one quarter to 75 percent of patients on these oral drugs may not be getting the full benefit of their treatment or may in facet be putting their health at further the risk because of another medication they are taking is concerning. Our oncology pharmacists are able to alert doctors about potential medication interactions through our Drug Utilization Review programs that have a complete picture of their prescription drugs." To determine their findings, the researchers administered drugs which may affect the potential of the oral cancer drugs to 4,617 patients. 43% of them were given one which the authors believe would … Continue reading →

Cheap generic drugs were meant to change the life of Nandakhu Nissar, whose mouth is swollen by a cancerous tumour. But the cashless and hungry 55-year-old sleeps on a pavement staring up at the windows of Mumbai's biggest cancer hospital. "What is a generic drug?" shrugs Nissar, who has travelled over 1,500 kms (900 miles) from his home in the hope of treatment. "I have borrowed money from friends and relatives and it is running out fast," says Nissar, his pale eyes filling with tears. The generic version of the drug, German drugmaker Bayer's Nexavar, will be produced under what is known as a compulsory license, available to nations to issue in certain cases where life-saving treatments are unaffordable. Yet no amount of compulsory licenses will help the millions of poor Indians suffering from diseases like cancer, because even the generic version of Nexavar will be priced beyond the reach of India's poor, experts and medical professionals say. Increased state spending on free and accessible healthcare and policies to extend insurance cover to its poorest citizens would be far more effective weapons. "The government has to start taking cancer seriously. They haven't done anything," said Dr M Krishnan Nair, an … Continue reading →