There is no end in sight to the rising cost of fighting cancer, according to Medco’s 2011 Drug Trend Report (www.drugtrendreport.com/2011-report), which forecasted the cost of cancer drugs will grow 34% to 42% over the next 3 years. Medco predicts that at this accelerated rate, oncology drugs will likely rise to the second- or third-largest trenddriving category by 2015, following only diabetes and central nervous system medications, according to the report, which tracks drug utilization and spending. The aging population, enhanced cancer detection, and prolonged survivorship translate into a 30% increase in the number of persons living with cancer by 2020. These trends have heightened demand for oncology specialty drugs, and the use of targeted therapies has increased by nearly 7%, according to the report. “New cancer drugs reaching the market are expected to double during the next several years,” said Glen Stettin, MD, Medco’s Chief Medical Officer. “Continued innovation, including companion diagnostic or pharmacogenomic testing, can help ensure the right person is getting the right drug at the proper dose and reduce waste. Due to the high cost and extended time patients may need treatment, the use of these latest design management tools is paramount,” he said. “The emergence of biosimilar drugs will help mitigate some of the costs of specialty drugs, when they start to reach the marketplace in or around 2013,” Dr Stettin added. “We are already working with employers and other health plan providers to prepare for these fast-approaching future trends.”
