Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treatment

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Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treatment - 8/5/2011 1:38:03 PM

IceDemeter

Posts: 84
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Hi All!

The attached address (sorry, can't seem to paste actual links here) takes you to an article outlining the RIT treatments Bexxar and Zevalin, used for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The petition itself can only use American signatures, but the results of this can and do have a major impact on access to this treatment all over the world.

http://www.annarbor.com/health/how-washington-is-denying-access-to-a-life-saving-cancer-treatment/

The largest single market for treatments like this is the US, so the lack of usage there has caused the manufacturer of Bexxar to consider discontinuing the drug completely. This means that this potentially life-saving treatment will not be available anywhere in the world.

I have lost loved ones to this disease prior to these drugs being approved, and had rejoiced whenever fabulous new treatments have become available so that others wouldn't have to suffer the same losses. Seeing something with such a proven track record dropped because a governmental agency doesn't choose to fully pay for it is beyond sad.

Please take a couple of minutes to read the article and see if you feel that this is a petition worth signing.

Thank you, and have a great weekend!

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RE: Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treat... - 8/5/2011 2:40:17 PM

Tantriqu

Posts: 2026
Joined: 12/29/2006
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It's actually the drug company that's the culprit: it's not profitable for them since other companies make other, very similar drugs.
Hopefully the other antibodies in the same class like rituxumab are still covered.
So encourage your country and countrymen to put more money into science and public research, and to encourage more kids to be doctors and research scientists, not sit on their butts and watch American Idol or become drug-company Washington lobbyists or pharmaceutical reps.
Good luck!

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RE: Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treat... - 8/5/2011 2:43:26 PM

DavidLee44UK

Posts: 436
Joined: 5/13/2011
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: IceDemeter

Hi All!

The attached address (sorry, can't seem to paste actual links here) takes you to an article outlining the RIT treatments Bexxar and Zevalin, used for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The petition itself can only use American signatures, but the results of this can and do have a major impact on access to this treatment all over the world.

http://www.annarbor.com/health/how-washington-is-denying-access-to-a-life-saving-cancer-treatment/

The largest single market for treatments like this is the US, so the lack of usage there has caused the manufacturer of Bexxar to consider discontinuing the drug completely. This means that this potentially life-saving treatment will not be available anywhere in the world.

I have lost loved ones to this disease prior to these drugs being approved, and had rejoiced whenever fabulous new treatments have become available so that others wouldn't have to suffer the same losses. Seeing something with such a proven track record dropped because a governmental agency doesn't choose to fully pay for it is beyond sad.

Please take a couple of minutes to read the article and see if you feel that this is a petition worth signing.

Thank you, and have a great weekend!

lol we have basically the same setup in uk a govt agency called nice

so what youre basically saying is that

in a time where everyone has to look at tightening belts

the govt should fund a drug which has been proved to work just as effectively as a cheaper one

your saying it could save lives right

what if the money that would be used could be spent elsewhere saving more lives

its a tad shortsighted

agencies have to make these decisions all the time right or wrong

but and this is what i find funny

a faceless person that no one or very few have met want to get strangers to sign a petition for something there not intrested in

its like trying to sell a bbq sauce to vegitarians

go to a health forum you would have more luck

< Message edited by DavidLee44UK -- 8/5/2011 2:45:18 PM >

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RE: Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treat... - 8/5/2011 2:57:14 PM

LadyConstanze

Posts: 9722
Joined: 2/18/2005
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Talk to any chemist, some people are not able to metabolize certain medication and need different ones, even if you have the same ingredients, the manufacturing process can make a major difference even if the active ingredients are the same, one of the reasons why generics don't work for everybody.

If it's about saving lives, then tightening bells is a really nasty way to say "sorry luv, we can't afford to keep you alive" - think about it, how would you feel if you wouldn't get your medication due to "tightening belts"? How about somebody says your assisted accommodations are expensive and since everybody has to tighten the belts why pay for that? You'd be pretty angry about that too, I bet!

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RE: Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treat... - 8/5/2011 3:08:43 PM

IceDemeter

Posts: 84
Status: offline

In actuality, this particular treatment is considered an extremely cost effective one, and the manufacturer's costs aren't out of line for it. The issues appear to lie in it being targeted radiation (so oncologists can't bill for it, know that it's not easily accessible, and therefore don't necessarily recommend it up front) and that it's treated by the government as being 3 separate things instead of the 3-stage single treatment that it is. Rituximab will not be affected by this - they are getting more than enough sales and their billings for it have dropped dramatically in the past 8 years. The only other manufacturer with a similar drug is having the same issues.

David is correct that a health forum would appear to be more appropriate for posting this, but I've seen a few forum members mention lymphoma with regard to themselves or a loved one and thought it would be appropriate to post this here in case they hadn't seen it elsewhere.

(in reply to LadyConstanze)

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RE: Petition to stop limiting access for lymphoma treat... - 8/5/2011 4:44:08 PM

DavidLee44UK

Posts: 436
Joined: 5/13/2011
Status: offline

LOL ice

william tell was a great shot but blind fold him and he couldnt hit anything

umm theres a thingy that gets 750 million users half those use it each day it starts with an f

you may get 5 intrested here

but you may get load if u start a group or fan page or even prote an event

if your so cut up about this have you done anything else

and how do you know that page is for that subject maybe a ruse

its all very well signing these online pertitions but im wondering if youll be bombarded by medical spam soon

because all pertitions ive signed are in much easier language and dont use such confusion

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