Why Generic Imatinib Costs Far Less Than the Brand
Imatinib changed the outlook for chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) when it arrived around the turn of the century. It turned a disease that was often fatal into one that many people now manage for years with a daily tablet. It is also used for gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) and some other cancers. The catch, for a long time, was cost. Generic imatinib is often far cheaper than the original brand, and it is fair to ask why, and whether anything important changes along the way. Patents and why prices drop The original imatinib product was developed by Novartis and sold as Glivec in Europe and Gleevec in the United States. Like most new medicines, it was protected by patents, which gave the company exclusive rights to sell it for a set period. During that time there was no direct competition, and the price reflected that. Once patents expire or are not granted in a given country, other manufacturers can make the same medicine. They do not have to repeat the large clinical trials th...