Congress raises concern over pricey cancer drugs

Research from the European Cancer Congress has identified that UK prices for generic cancer drugs have risen sharply in the past five years, restricting some NHS patients from accessing treatments.

The study indicated that drugs such as tamoxifen and bulsufan are now 10 times more expensive even though they are no longer under patent. It outlined that NHS negotiations with drug companies were failing to control costs.

The congress explained that on-patent drugs allow pharmaceutical companies to profit from their investments in research and development by charging high prices for the drug. However, once a patent has expired, generic versions can be sold, and the prices should fall close to the cost of production.

According to the researchers, the cost of cancer drugs has risen to £380 million per year, a figure which does not include hospital prescribing.

Dr Andrew Hill, senior research fellow in pharmacology and therapeutics at the University of Liverpool, explained: “We have found that some companies take over the supply of some generic cancer medicines and then raise the price progressively.”

Warwick Smith, director-general of the British Generic Manufacturers Association, countered: “Generic competition in the oncology market has produced very significant savings for the NHS and generated access for patients to medicines such as tamoxifen which can be used to reduce the risk of breast cancer and not just to treat it.

"In the case of generic medicines used in hospitals, it is important to distinguish between the actual price paid by trusts and the much higher list prices often quoted."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "We will continue to work closely with the pharmaceutical sector to make a success of these new measures, and all the money saved will be invested in the NHS to help provide the highest quality of care for patients."