The Johns Hopkins Singapore International Medical Centre, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore.
Ann Oncol. 2013 Sep;24 Suppl 5:v13-6. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdt323.
Cancer treatments have improved outcomes but access to medications is an issue around the world and especially so in low- and middle-income countries, such as India. Generic substitution may lead to significant cost savings. The author aimed to compare the cost and estimate potential cost savings per cycle, per patient, and for the country as a whole with generic substitution of frequently used chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of common cancers in India. Generic paclitaxel (Taxol), docetaxel (Taxotere), gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan cost from 8.9% to 36% of their equivalent branded originator drug, resulting in cost savings of ~ Indian Rupees (INR) 11,000 to >INR 90,000 (USD 200-1600, Euro 160-1300) per cycle; and INR 50,000 to >INR 240,000 (USD 900-4300, Euro 700-3400) per patient. Overall, potential yearly savings for health systems in India were nearly INR 47 billion (USD 843 million, Euro 670 million). In conclusion, generic substitution for frequently used chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of common cancers has an enormous potential to generate significant cost savings and increase access to cancer treatments in India and other low- and middle-income countries.
癌症治疗方法的改进提高了治疗效果，但药物的可及性是一个全球性问题，尤其是在印度等中低收入国家。仿制药替代可能会带来显著的成本节约。作者旨在比较成本，并估计在印度，用仿制药替代常用于治疗常见癌症的化疗药物，每个周期、每个患者和整个国家的潜在成本节约。仿制药紫杉醇（Taxol）、多西他赛（Taxotere）、吉西他滨、奥沙利铂和伊立替康的价格分别为其相应品牌原研药的 8.9%至 36%，每个周期的成本节约约为 11000 印度卢比（INR）至 >INR 90000（USD 200-1600，欧元 160-1300）；每个患者的成本节约约为 50000INR 至 >INR 240000（USD 900-4300，欧元 700-3400）。总体而言，印度卫生系统的潜在年节省额接近 470 亿印度卢比（约合 8.43 亿美元，6.70 亿欧元）。总之，在治疗常见癌症中，常用化疗药物的仿制药替代具有巨大的潜力，可以在印度和其他中低收入国家显著降低成本，增加癌症治疗的可及性。
