Average Increase in Price of Cancer Drugs Below CPI Trend.RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK Research Triangle Park, research, business, medical, and educational complex situated in central North Carolina. It has an area of 6,900 acres (2,795 hectares) and is 8 × 2 mi (13 × 3 km) in size. Named for the triangle formed by Duke Univ. , N.C. -- Cancer e search Incorporated, an oncology market research consulting firm Noun 1. consulting firm - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting company business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a , conducted a study to measure the increase in the price of cancer drug therapy in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Based on a study of 63 cancer drugs, which represent approximately 90% of total drug-treated cancer patients in 2006, the average wholesaler acquisition cost (WAC WAC (Women's Army Corps), U.S. army organization created (1942) during World War II to enlist women as auxiliaries for noncombatant duty in the U.S. army. Before 1943 it was known as the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). Its first director was Oveta Culp Hobby. ) increase among drugs with a price increase through June 2006 is 7.7%. However, the (weighted) average change in price is +2%. This increase is lower than the +4.3% increase in the consumer price increase (CPI (1) (Characters Per Inch) The measurement of the density of characters per inch on tape or paper. A printer's CPI button switches character pitch. (2) (Counts Per I ) for medical care through August 2006. The weighted average change in WAC takes into account the patient volume on each drug as well as the impact of generic drugs. For example, the price of Hycamtin, an injectable chemotherapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer ovarian cancer Malignant tumour of the ovaries. Risk factors include early age of first menstruation (before age 12), late onset of menopause (after age 52), absence of pregnancy, presence of specific genetic mutations, use of fertility drugs, and personal history of breast , increased 10% in 2006 while the cost of carboplatin therapy was reduced by approximately 20% due to generic availability of Paraplatin, the branded drug. Of most significance is the fact that less than 2% of cancer patients receive Hycamtin while 10% receive Paraplatin, which is used for the treatment of a variety of tumor types. "Pricing trend analysis of the cancer market has historically shown increases that are much higher than CPI because patient volumes and brand displacement by lower-priced generics are not taken into account," says Al Camacho, President of Cancer e search Inc. For more details about this study visit www.canceresearch.com Sources: Thompson Micromedex Red Book: June 2006; National Cancer Treatment Tracking Audit: June 2006 |
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