The True Costs and Benefits of Avastin

The New York Times on Sunday revisits the escalating controversy over the high cost of cancer care with a major story on Avastin, Genentech's blockbuster drug for colon, lung, and breast cancer that is already generating $2.3 billion a year for the firm. The story points out that "many patients with cancers other than those of the colon, lung or breast are taking the drug, even in cases where there is no compelling evidence that it can help." And now that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has allowed oncologists to use the National Comprehensive Cancer Network compendium to justify payment for many more off-label uses, many of which have very weak evidence behind them (see this GoozNews post), you can be assured costs to patients and taxpayers will only grow in the years ahead. The Times story asks all the right... [read full story]