by ROSARIO DI RAIMONDO 05 May 2014 R.it Bologna
“There is no difference between the two drugs Avastin and Lucentis regarding the safety of their use by patients with retinal maculopathy.” This is what the Emilia-Romagna Region affirms, based on a study entrusted to Cochrane, the most authoritative independent international non-profit organization in this health sector. Precisely for these two drugs, the two manufacturing companies – Roche and Novartis – have been fined by the Antitrust for 180 million euros, accused of forming a cartel to impose the most expensive one on the market, Lucentis, which costs between 1,000 and 1,100 euros compared to 16-20 for the former.
“All the studies considered directly compared the two drugs: thus a scientifically rigorous and complete picture emerged on the safety levels of the two drugs. There are no differences between the adverse reactions, therefore on the quality and safety levels of the two products, for patients treated with Avastin or Lucentis”, continues the study.
According to an estimate by the Region, every million euros spent each year on the most expensive drug corresponds to "about 12 doctors, or 28 nurses, 34 auxiliaries, 44 thousand specialist visits". Emilia-Romagna itself has played a fundamental role in this war against Big Pharma, as regional health councilor Carlo Lusenti, general manager Tiziano Carradori and various experts from Viale Aldo Moro explained today at a press conference.
As early as 2009, in fact, Avastin, that is the cheapest medicine, "not authorized by AIFA but with proven efficacy" had been authorized in hospitals in Emilia. A judicial war ensued between the Region and Novartis, with the pharmaceutical company challenging the decision of the Health Department. Tomorrow, 6 May, a decision by the Constitutional Court is expected, the outcome of which could definitively prove Emilia-Romagna right.
Novartis-Roche: how it turned out
by Domenico De Felice | May 5, 2014
While waiting for the Superior Council of Health, at the request of the Minister of Health Beatrice Lorenzin, express your opinion on the Lucenti-Avastin case the two drug multinationals bought pages of the newspaper, to explain to citizens, and sent letters to parliamentarians,to defend their positions.
I remind you that the two ophthalmological drugs, used in cases of alteration of the central retina, are superimposable from a clinical point of view, as detailed by two scientific studies, and that the WHO has indicated the one that costs less, Avastin, as the only one to use while, still today, the Italian state reimburses the most expensive with a monthly expense of 50 million euros. Now the two multinationals are going on the attack.
The news of Roche's appeal to the Lazio Regional Administrative Court against the cartel agreement imposed by the Antitrust last March came on Friday.
While Novartis sues the Emilia Romagna region for damages which authorized, with its resolution, the use of Avastin in public facilities.
Everything gets complicated. The Minister of Health awaits the Superior Health Council, which is silent for now, and does not intervene on Aifa, which does not listen to the WHO. The drug multinationals field their information and legal studies.
Poor citizens, defenseless from politicians who are thinking about the upcoming elections, especially if they are patient, are dumbly worried. Europe looks at Italy and its Minister of Health, who is presenting himself at the European elections, who is unable to impose his voice. The neverending story continues on the "skin" of Italians.
