The prostate cancer drug, Xtandi, costs four times more in the United States than in other major countries

 

In a letter to Secretary Burwell and Director Collins, Klobuchar and Franken called on NIH to hold a public hearing to consider overriding the patent on Xtandi to make the drug available at a lower price; under current law, NIH can take this step if federal funds supported a drug’s development and the company is selling it at an unreasonably high price


WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken have urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to take steps to lower the cost of the prostate cancer drug, Xtandi, which costs four times more in the United States than in other major countries. In a letter to Secretary Burwell and Director Collins, Klobuchar, Franken, and other lawmakers called on NIH to hold a public hearing to consider overriding the patent on Xtandi to make the drug available at a lower price. Under current law, NIH can take this step if federal funds supported a drug’s development and the company is selling it at an unreasonably high price.

Xtandi was developed at the University of California, Los Angeles, through taxpayer-supported research grants from the U.S. Army and NIH. The medication, which is sold by Japanese drugmaker Astellas Pharma, has an average wholesale price in the U.S. of more than $129,000. It is sold in Japan and Sweden for $39,000 and in Canada for $30,000.

“When Americans pay for research that results in a safe and effective drug, an unreasonably high cost should not limit their access to it. New treatments are meaningless if patients cannot afford them,” wrote the lawmakers. “The NIH has a powerful tool to hold drug companies accountable for barriers to access to drugs developed through support of U.S. taxpayers, including price. We look forward to your prompt reply and continuing to work with you to ensure all patients have timely access to innovative, quality, affordable medications.”

The letter was also signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), as well as Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Mark Pocan (D-WI).