ArticleBMJ open2016
Target prices for mass production of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for global cancer treatment.
Article in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
30 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 67 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Current evidence on the efficacy and safety of generic imatinib in CML and the impact of generics on health care costs.Blood advances · 2021Pooled it
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- Balancing Innovation and Access: Insights from AIM's Fair Pricing Model and Its Current and Future Applications.PharmacoEconomics · 2026Article
- Contemporary trends on the kinase inhibitors with special reference to quinoxaline derivatives.Molecular diversity · 2026Review
- What is the role of common sense oncology in the Western Pacific?The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2025Review
- Recent FDA-approved kinase inhibitors for cancer therapy in 2025: A comprehensive review and perspectives.EXCLI journal · 2025Review
- An analysis of the trends in the usage of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme-subsidised cancer drugs in Australia from 2012 to 2022.Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology · 2024Article
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- A MEA is a MEA is a MEA? Sequential decision making and the impact of different managed entry agreements at the manufacturer and payer level, using a case study for an oncology drug in England.The European journal of health economics : HEPAC : health economics in prevention and care · 2021Article
- CT-GuidedCancer management and research · 2021Article
- Targeting Reactive Oxygen Species Capacity of Tumor Cells with Repurposed Drug as an Anticancer Therapy.Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2021Review
- Value-based tiered pricing for universal health coverage: an idea worth revisiting.Gates open research · 2020Article
- Estimation of cost-based prices for injectable medicines in the WHO Essential Medicines List.BMJ open · 2019Article
- Comparison of Sales Income and Research and Development Costs for FDA-Approved Cancer Drugs Sold by Originator Drug Companies.JAMA network open · 2019Article
- Cancer medicines in Asia and Asia-Pacific: What is available, and is it effective enough?ESMO open · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo calculate sustainable generic prices for 4 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
backgroundTKIs have proven survival benefits in the treatment of several cancers, including chronic myeloid leukaemia, breast, liver, renal and lung cancer. However, current high prices are a barrier to treatment. Mass production of low-cost generic antiretrovirals has led to over 13 million people being on HIV/AIDS treatment worldwide. This analysis estimates target prices for generic TKIs, assuming similar methods of mass production.
methodsFour TKIs with patent expiry dates in the next 5 years were selected for analysis: imatinib, erlotinib, lapatinib and sorafenib. Chemistry, dosing, published data on per-kilogram pricing for commercial transactions of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), and quotes from manufacturers were used to estimate costs of production. Analysis included costs of excipients, formulation, packaging, shipping and a 50% profit margin. Target prices were compared with current prices. Global numbers of patients eligible for treatment with each TKI were estimated.
resultsAPI costs per kg were $347-$746 for imatinib, $2470 for erlotinib, $4671 for lapatinib, and $3000 for sorafenib. Basing on annual dose requirements, costs of formulation/packaging and a 50% profit margin, target generic prices per person-year were $128-$216 for imatinib, $240 for erlotinib, $1450 for sorafenib, and $4020 for lapatinib. Over 1 million people would be newly eligible to start treatment with these TKIs annually.
conclusionsMass generic production of several TKIs could achieve treatment prices in the range of $128-$4020 per person-year, versus current US prices of $75161-$139,138. Generic TKIs could allow significant savings and scaling-up of treatment globally, for over 1 million eligible patients.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.