Patients in bind as brain cancer drug price rises to $1,000 per pill

The maker of the expensive brain cancer drug Gleostine has removed it from the Medicare drug rebate program, a move that could have dire consequences for some patients.

The drug from NextSource Biotechnology is used to treat glioblastoma and other brain cancers and can cost as much as $1,000 a capsule. The Gleostine patent has expired, but there is no generic version, CBS News reported. The company’s decision—which means there is one less option in a limited number of approved chemotherapies—was criticized by brain tumor experts and patient advocates.

“The decision by the company to withdraw from public health insurance programs weakens the safety net for vulnerable brain cancer patients who already have few treatment options,” David Arons, CEO of the National Brain Tumor Society, told CBS Moneywatch. “We urge NextSource to rejoin these programs and help reduce barriers for patients who require access to this therapy as well as for researchers and clinical trial participants participating in critical, ongoing brain cancer studies.”

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