Venetoclax availability

[Dawson21]

I have just read that Abbievie, the manufacturers of Venetoclax are pulling out of the NHS National pricing agreement, on the basis that they aren't being paid enough to continue research, etc. Is this likely to have any impact on the availability of Venetoclax, which is a very expensive drug in retail terms. Any expert views? I am going to ask my consultant next week. It would be a great shame if this miracle drug became less available on cost grounds.

[Jm954 Administrator]

That’s very worrying if that is true as NICE won’t make venetoclax available if it’s not within the pricing structure that was agreed. Not sure what the legal position would be.

I’ll see if I can find out any more but they keep these things very quiet.

Jackie

[RogerPinner in reply to Jm954]

Jackie, as others have said, this is worrying, personally and for the group. I'm sure you'll post whatever you find out.

I hope you are keeping well.

Roger

[Fran57]

That’s worrying… I wonder how it will affect those currently taking it…

Fran 🙁

[jonathan7176]

According to this (paywalled) article in the FT, it is a "warning shot" from AbbVie and Eli Lilly. Unusually, it is the profit-ravenous company that seems to be at fault. They want a "more internationally competitive" scheme when this one expires.

ft.com/content/a27742f3-56c...

[Dawson21 in reply to jonathan7176]

I hadn't seen this and can't see behind the paywall - so how serious is it and what might the consequences be - don't know of course

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to jonathan7176]

your political comment has been deleted as per the posting guidelines.

[jonathan7176 in reply to Jm954]

Apologies - my bad. I guess you mean my reference to the UK Tory Party? But, my big-pharma comment is still there so guess that isn't deemed political?

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to jonathan7176]

It's party politics that tends to get divisive and argumentative so we enforce the no politics very firmly and quickly. Big pharma, I don't think that's political in the same way. Thank you for the reply.

[Dawson21]

I read it in the Telegraph yesterday (page 4) - an article from their Health Correspondent Lizzie Roberts: Eli Lilly and AbbiView have left the UK's voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and Access (VPAS) - a long standing agreement to limit the cost of medicines to the NHS. The scheme caps rises in the medicine bill to 2% pa with penalties if this is exceeded. In December the annual increase in cost hit 26.5% - pre pandemic is was around 5%. Pharma views these charges as "punishing" and reducing their ability to invest in innovative drugs.

[Jm954 Administrator in reply to Dawson21]

Thank you, for the benefit of others, here’s more from the UK Daily Telegraph which owns the copyright

Eli Lilly and AbbVie have left the UK’s Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS) – a long-standing agreement designed to limit the cost of medicines for the NHS, while supporting industry innovation.

The scheme caps the NHS’s branded medicines bill, meaning all drug manufacturers face a charge if the bill rises by more than 2 per cent annually. The rate of that charge has risen rapidly in recent years as demand for NHS treatment has grown and, as of December, the rate hit 26.5 per cent.Before the pandemic, the scheme, which was seen as a particularly important pro-innovation deal post-Brexit, had a rate of around 5 per cent.

The industry body, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said the hike puts the UK “out of step” with global competitors.It comes after the Government launched a 10-year Life Sciences Vision in 2021 to “accelerate the delivery of life-changing innovations to patients” and make the UK a “science superpower”. But pharmaceutical firms said the “punishing” charges are forcing them to reduce their research and development as well as their manufacturing investments in the UK.ABPI said the rate and declining investment in the UK will affect patients’ access to new and innovative drugs.

Eli Lilly and AbbVie are the first firms to leave the voluntary scheme due to the rate increase.It’s understood that Will Quince, the minister for health, is holding talks with the industry to discuss the impact of VPAS. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We are open to ideas about how the next scheme should operate, after the current one runs out and [we] will continue to engage with [the] industry to understand the impact on companies.”

[LeoPa]

Given these are publicly owned companies they should stop paying dividends to the shareholders first before they complain of not having enough money for research. Pass a law tying any price increases to suspension of dividend payments. Then see how they react.

[Kingfish6 in reply to LeoPa]

Dividends are 1 thing - there are massive compenstaion packages paid to upper & mid-mgmt & retired execs, not to mention marketing & advertising. R&D is a smaller %age of expense

[mickimauser11]

it could be something thought about but there are other BCL2 i drugs in trial as well as drugs targeting BCL2i /BCLXL drugs Venetoclax is the best researched but I can’t imagine that this will become a real

[DanBro1]

reuters.com/business/health...

*No Paywall

CEO of Abbvie was paid $19 million dollars in salary and stock a year ago. Lilly CEO was paid $8 million salary plus unknown stock at this time. Don't forget they also get free automobiles and use of numerous corporate jets for business and person. Venclexta in the US costs over $15,000 for 30 days.... in the UK the price is about $6,200 . Go figure.