Xtandi Request

Xtandi Request to NIH

Xtandi Case

On January 14, 2016, UACT and KEI submitted a request that the US government exercise its march-in rights on Xtandi, a prostate cancer drug initially developed at UCLA with federal funding.

March 21, 2016. A group of 11 non-profit organizations submitted a letter to the NIH in support of UACT and KEI's petition to exercise its march-in rights to lower the price of Xtandi, a drug developed in the US, but which costs US patients more than other high-income countries.

March 28, 2016. In a letter from both side of Congress, twelve Senators and Representatives sent a letter to HHS Secretary Burwell and Director Collins at NIH calling for a hearing to discuss the issues surrounding high priceddrugs such as Xtandi and the need for the NIH to exercise its march-in rights. Signatories to the letter included: Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), JRep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Rosa De Lauro (D-CT), and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI).

April 26, 2016. The Canadian company Biolyse wrote to US Medicare to offer to manufacture generic version of Xtandi for a fraction of the price of Xtandi.

April 26, 2016. In his keynote address at the Center for American Progress Forum on Rx Drug Pricing, Rep. Lloyd Doggett discusses the Xtandi case and calls for a hearing on the march-in request. Comments on Xtandi begin at 9:30 below:

June 30, 2016. National Institutes of Health responded to UACT and KEI's request and declined to exercise its rights to lower the price of Xtandi. NIH Director Francis Collins informed UACT and KEI that the NIH would not take action to lower the price of Xtandi, rejecting the petition without addressing the obligation to make the drug available on reasonable terms.

Regarding the rejection by the NIH, Manon Ress of UACT provided this statement,

"From the patient point of view, Dr. Collins chose to help increase the profit of a foreign firm that charges high prices for a life saving drug for many cancer patients, instead of ensuring that U.S. cancer patients can have affordable access to this U.S. government-funded drug. It is wrong and undermines the credibility of the NIH.”

For more discussion of the NIH response to the march-in request and statements by KEI and other groups, please visit: KEI's blog.

Patient Stories

When discussing the high price of drugs, neither advocates nor the companies should ever forget the heart of the issue, the patients. Upon hearing of our request, UACT and KEI received a letter from a prostate cancer patient who, despite having insurance, is sinking under the weight of his exorbitant co-pays. Read his full letter here.

If you're interested in contacting a patient to hear their story, please email: tell-me-more@cancerunion.org

Xtandi Request in the News

Bna.com. John T. Aquino. June 22, 2016. "NIH Won't ‘March-in'to Allow Generics of Astellas's Xtandi."
FiercePharma.com. Carly Helfand. June 21, 2016. "NIH won't override patents on Astellas' pricey Xtandi to bring down prices."
Politico.com. Dan Diamond, June 21, 2016. "Where health costs are headed next year."
Marioxy Betancourt. June 20, 2016. "U.S. NIH refused petition to override prostate cancer drug patent."
Statnews.com. Ed Silverman, June 20, 2016."NIH rejects petition to override patent on pricey prostate cancer drug."
Statnews.com. Ed Silverman. April 28, 2016. "A frustrated Sanofi makes $9.3 billion bid for Medivation and its cancer drug."
Forterietimes.ca. Karena Walter. April 26, 2016. "Niagra company offers U.S. cheaper cancer drug."
Pharmpro.com. Mike Botta. March 30, 2016."Lawmakers Seek to Rein in High Cost of Prostate Drug."
Nasdaq. Dow Jones Business News. March 29, 2016.Lawmakers Target Medivation Over Drug Prices.
WSJ. Emma Court. March 29, 2016. "Lawmakers Target medication over drug Prices (Including Bernie Sanders)."
FiercePharma.com. Emily Wasserman. March 29, 2016."UPDATED: Astellas cancer med Xtandi draws fire as U.S. lawmakers demand a pricing hearing."
StatNews.com. Ed Silverman. March 28, 2016. "Sanders, other lawmakers seek NIH hearing to override drug patent."
BNA.com John T. Aquino. March 9, 2016. "Congressman says HHS should License generics of Astellas' Xtandi."
Chicago Tribune. Carolyn Y. Johnson. January 14, 2016. "Drugmaker Under fire for taxpayer funded cancer drug that costs $129,269 a year."