For UK Members regarding Abiraterone.

[pjoshea13]

"Abiraterone not recommended by UK’s NICE as first-line treatment for advanced prostate cancer"

ecancer.org/news/14153-abir...

-Patrick

[Karkawry1970]

Where's the thumbs down button...👎

[Apollo123]

This is purely a financial decision. Really awful that men can’t access this drug in the UK as it’s such a game changer!

[Scruffybut1 in reply to Apollo123]

Hi Apollo, I have been on Zytiga for 2 years, it is available in the UK. Are you back. From California?

[Apollo123 in reply to Scruffybut1]

Hi there yes I’m back it was fab. I’m on Zytiga but I’m paying for it as it’s not free for first line treatment unless you were included in the stampede trial. I was hoping they would allow it so it would then become free but they have ruled against it! Hope your still doing great I know your experience with Zytiga has been good. 👍

[pjoshea13]

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) originally refused to pay £3,000 a month for Abi (for anyone), but in 2016 Janssen lowered the price to £2,300 for 120 tablets, which is 30 days' supply.

bbc.com/news/health-35861202

But if available for first-line treatment, there would be far greater demand than the current ~6,000 men per year. Perhaps NICE is expecting Janssen to negotiate a lower price again?

-Patrick

[AlanMeyer]

I have no idea whether the ad cited below is honest or reliable, but they're advertising generic abiraterone for $8.99 per tablet = $1,079 for a 30 day supply at 4 tabs per day.

worldtrustpharmacy.co/abira...

It might be cheaper to fly to India, live there, and buy the generic drugs at Indian list prices - all completely legal, than even to pay copays for these drugs in the U.S.

Just sayin'.

Alan

[Don1157]

Is it approved by insurance companies here for first line treatment?

[MikeDonald in reply to Don1157]

Where is "here"? I am in the UK and I have been on Abiraterone for 13 months all paid for by BUPA. I cannot believe this decision. My consultant used the phrase "game changer" before the trial results were announced from advanced information and a cancer specialist involved in the trials commented that the production of the initial results was "a once in a career moment"

[Don1157 in reply to MikeDonald]

In the US.

[pjoshea13 in reply to MikeDonald]

Mike,

When I began this thread I wondered whether men with BUPA coverage were subject to the NICE limitations. Is there a general drug advantage in having BUPA.

-Patrick

[MikeDonald in reply to pjoshea13]

Patrick,

BUPA is a private medical scheme in the UK where annual subscriptions are paid for medical cover. I understand there are similar arrangements in the USA. When my consultant advised the use of Abiraterone following the trial results he contacted BUPA to ensure that the cost of the drug would be covered under my policy. He never doubted that they would refuse the cost on the basis that they have a duty of care to provide the best medical care available to their scheme members. My premiums are paid by my employer and our scheme was renewed, despite the cost of my medical care, and without any significant uplift in the premiums.

[Hidden]

Not 'Nice'. Imagine this is a reaction to cost of drug. Could this be a good thing to see some push back against these greedy drug companies? Maybe a negotiating ploy?