Resolving the import dependence of anticancer drugs depends on research and development

Medical Network August 16th, the high price of imported anti-cancer drugs has discouraged many patients, some patients were forced to choose the quality of purchasing is uncontrollable, lack of doctor's clinical guidance of 'outsourcing drugs'. It is worth noting that in recent years, With the anti-cancer drug 'zero tariff', the national drug price negotiations, the elimination of drug additions, the two-vote system and other drug prices are frequent, the price of anticancer drugs is expected to be further reduced, and the 'high-priced life-saving drugs' dilemma may face a solution. With the acceleration of drug review and approval, more new drugs will enter the Chinese market in the future. However, improving the research and development capabilities of domestic pharmaceutical companies is the fundamental strategy to reduce the price of anticancer drugs.

In recent years, the incidence of cancer in China is high, and the cost of treatment is hundreds of thousands of yuan. Faced with the heavy economic burden of taking anticancer drugs, many cancer patients buy cheap generic drugs from abroad through secret underground channels. Some patients even risk themselves, pharmacy.

According to the National Cancer Center's "Analysis of the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors in China in 2014", there were about 3.084 million new cases of malignant tumors in 2014, and the incidence of cancer was 278.07/100,000, which is equivalent to an average of more than one day. 10,000 people were diagnosed with cancer, and 7 people were diagnosed with cancer every minute. The national malignant tumor mortality rate was 167.89/100,000.

In recent years, molecularly targeted drugs and other anticancer drugs have been listed on the market, but the price of patents and exclusive drugs is high.

Taking chronic myeloid leukemia as an example, the disease with an incidence of 0.39-0.55/100,000 is not common. In adult leukemia patients, only about 20% belong to chronic granules. In 2001, the special drug 'Gleevec' It appears that the 10-year survival rate of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia reaches 85%-90%, and the slow-particle begins to become a controllable 'chronic disease'.

The following year, Gleevec was listed in China. The reporter found that Gleevec was priced at 23,500 yuan/box at the beginning of domestic listing. One box per month, about 280,000 yuan a year, this price is for most The patient's family is astronomical.

Most of the imported anti-cancer drugs are 'high price', especially imported targeted drugs, which are expensive and unaffordable for the general family. According to IMS's latest report, Global Oncology Trends 2017 ("Global Oncology Trends 2017"), over the past 5 years, The global expenditure on anti-cancer drugs has increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%, which is a significant increase from the 4.9% growth rate in 2006-2011. The cost of cancer treatment is expected to be 6 per year. The rate of %-9% will increase by more than $147 billion by 2021.

Faced with the heavy economic burden of taking anticancer drugs, Liu Qiang (a pseudonym) tried to process anticancer drugs by himself. His raw materials are very simple: a precision balance bought for 120 yuan, a few blue and white Capsule shell, and an online shopping drug raw material. Compared with regular drugs for a course of 10,000 yuan, this 'cottage capsule' will reduce the cost by two-thirds. 'Because I am afraid, I didn't dare to take this medicine, I I also know that this is illegal, but at the time I really had no way to go. 'Liu Qiang said. 'In fact, in the process of cancer patients self-pharmaceutical, some people have guidance. 'Guangdong hospital tumor center doctor told reporters that some patients after the successful pharmaceutical , will experience, experience in the group of patients, posted on the bar, communicate together. At the same time, the institutions and personnel to provide raw materials, will also provide some guidance. Based on these scattered information, some patients take their own risks, their own pharmaceutical. In the process, if it is unsuccessful, side effects are equivalent to 'gambling'. There are also some Chinese cancer patients who do not dare to 'gamble' but can't afford it through secret underground channels, from India, Turkey, Niagara States and other countries to buy cheap generic drugs.

National food drug The General Administration of Supervision and Management has issued the 'Internet Drug Consumption Tips', stating: 'Online claims to purchase prescription drugs such as foreign anticancer drugs, its procurement channels are very suspicious, the authenticity and quality of the drugs are not guaranteed, regular online pharmacies will not set up this According to the experience gained by the local drug regulatory authorities in investigating and handling cases, about 75% of the overseas purchasing anti-cancer drugs on the Internet have been confirmed to be counterfeit drugs, which may cause more harm to the disease, and more serious damage. Therefore, online purchasing overseas drugs is Completely untrustworthy, not desirable. '

According to China's Drug Administration Law, this 'cottage' drug has not obtained permission from the relevant departments, and should be regarded as a counterfeit drug and prohibited from selling. However, in the face of huge price differences, a foreign low-cost generic drug flows into the country. The channel is still being opened.

'There are not many choices for cancer patients. The price is the first factor to consider. 'Xia Long (a pseudonym) who buys anti-cancer generic drugs from Indians to treat his family's lung cancer, says, taking one month's dose as an example, three boxes of easy Ruisha imports about 7500 yuan from Europe and the United States, about 7,000 yuan for three boxes of domestically produced drugs, and 400 yuan for a bottle of Indian generic drugs.

Shang Jia, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Henan Provincial People's Hospital, said, 'In some areas of Henan, many small molecules for patients are not so-called 'Indian generics'. Irregular drugs may be due to drug impurities and other unsafe problems. Causes the disease to recur or even worse.

In fact, the government has been promoting related work to reduce the price of imported drugs, especially anti-cancer drugs. In order to make cancer patients use good medicines, they can afford good medicines, and stronger supporting policies are on the way, and more reductions are made. Space can be expected.

Since 2015, the State Council on the reform of pharmaceuticals medical instruments Since the publication of the Opinions on the Review and Approval System, relevant measures have been expedited to speed up drug reviews and to release clinical trials. medicine The industry's favorable policies are frequent.

In addition to launching the consistency evaluation of generic drugs, in recent years, the government has frequently launched a new policy to the high drug prices. In November 2016, the State Council deepened the medical and health system reform leading group on the further promotion of deepening the experience of medical and health system reform. Announced that all public hospitals are required to cancel the drug add-on and purchase a two-vote system.

'Two-vote system', that is, the production of medicines enterprise Open an invoice to the circulation enterprise, and the circulation enterprise will open an invoice to the medical institution. The 'two-vote system' makes the entire circulation link transparent, and the medicines are from the manufacturer. hospital What is the price of the hospital, what is the price of the sale, the middle process opens two votes, the tax department can see how much the price is added for each ticket, in order to find the illegal billing in time.

Since 2017, all public hospitals in China have cancelled the drug add-on policy for more than 60 years. Since this year, the 'two-vote system' has been pushed across the country.

In 2015, the General Office of the State Council issued the “Guiding Opinions on Improving the Centralized Purchasing of Drugs in Public Hospitals”, and proposed to establish a drug price negotiation mechanism for some patented drugs and exclusive drugs. Subsequently, the former National Health and Family Planning Commission initiated the first national drug price negotiation.