BCG shortage article

8 years 6 months ago #49426 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic BCG shortage article
Looks like the alternative to BCG is becoming a closer reality: finance.yahoo.com/news/telesta-announces-fda-advisory-committee-110000827.html

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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8 years 8 months ago #48988 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic BCG shortage article
You can bet it won't be cheap!

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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8 years 8 months ago #48987 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic BCG shortage article
Alan, that is fascinating!! I do hope it pans out. If it is indeed what it sounds like, and safer in administration than BCG, I can see it replacing BCG eventually, instead of being for those who "fail" BCG.

My only worry is...what will the cost be? So many of these new drugs are beyond reasonable in cost. That Hep C cure (and it apparently IS a cure) that we see advertised on TV all the time costs $94,000 for a 12 week supply in the US!!

Sara Anne

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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8 years 8 months ago - 8 years 8 months ago #48986 by Alan
Replied by Alan on topic BCG shortage article
The alternative for BCG may be coming before the end of the year. By posting I am in no way advocating this company's stock but FYI, the FDA filing appears to be complete.

finance.yahoo.com/news/telesta-therapeutics-submits-biologics-license-110000622.html

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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8 years 9 months ago #48870 by sara.anne
Replied by sara.anne on topic BCG shortage article
Alan, that is an excellent summary of what is going on! I hate to say it, but I suspect that an important part of the reason for the shortage is stated in the article:

"BCG, a liquid delivered into a patient’s bladder, is expensive to manufacture because it is derived from live bacteria. Yet because the therapy is 25 years old and no longer protected by patent, it fetches only about $145 a vial, compared with about $2,700 for a vial of Avastin, a newer, patented drug for other forms of cancer that hasn’t had shortage issues."

Guess I am just a cynic!!

SA

Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
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8 years 9 months ago #48869 by Alan
BCG shortage article was created by Alan
Among many drugs that are scarce BCG takes center stage.

finance.yahoo.com/news/u-drug-shortages-frustrate-doctors-022900422.html

DX 5/6/2008 TAG3 papillary tumor .5 CM in size. 2 TURBS followed by 6 instillations of BCG weekly with a second round of 6 after a 6 week wait.

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