Provenge, a new treatment for prostate cancer incurable stage with a price of $93,000 label, is covered by Medicare, officials confirmed yesterday. The drug has been shown to men whose cancer has not responded to hormone treatment and radiation and spread through the body one extra for the first four months of life.
A spokesman for the insurance described Provenge as a drug ?reasonable and necessary?.
Use of Provenge is not covered, insurance said.
Provenge triggers the immune system against prostate cancer. The treatment is to collect white blood cells of the patient and exposing them to proteins which make them attack the cancer cells. After treatment of the cells of the patient, they are placed in her body to stimulate the immune system. To do this several times for several weeks for a total of three months.
CMS administrator Donald M. Berwick, M.D., stated:
?We are optimistic that innovative strategies can improve the experience of care for our beneficiaries who have cancer.? CMS is dedicated to ensure that these patients can seek treatment they need in accordance with their wishes. ?
Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the United States, after the skin cancer. It develops in the prostate and may spread to other parts of the body ? it is potentially lethal.
Under Medicare, approximately 192,280 patients have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States in 2009; the same year 27,360 men died of disease. The majority of cancers of the prostate is diagnosed in men after 65 years of age (age means 72).
In a press release online, the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) wrote:
?Decision of coverage today includes coverage of Provenge for FDA approved uses: for the treatment of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic neutered resistant (hormone refractory) prostate cancer.?.
Patrick Conway, MD, MSc, CMS, physician leader and Director of standards & quality clinical Agency, said:
?CMS is covering Provenge nationally for these indications of evidence and compatible with the label of the FDA.? Similar to other cases of treatment, patients should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor to make an individual decision. ?
?Questions and answers ? Provenge.
To determine if it will pay for the new treatment, Medicare is not allowed to consider the price. However, the price of $93,000 tag had been controversial with many experts and legislators, you ask what the Government?s role should be covering their expenses ? given the large number of baby boomers, costs of health insurance are on the rise.
Dendreon Corporation, makers of Provenge explain that median survival time of medication is double of chemotherapy, with much less serious side effects. The company says that he spent over 1 billion on R & D before the drug was prepared to go on the market.
The US authorities have approved the opening of a second Dendreon plant in Los Angeles, California. At the end of August, the company expects to have three plants, its an original in New Jersey, the other in Los Angeles, and a new one in Atlanta, Georgia.
Written by Christian Nordqvist
View the information on the drug Provenge.
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