- The number of new expensive drugs that treat hepatitis C and some common cancers appear on the last list of essential medicines (EML) published by the World health Organization (WHO). An expert committee every two years selects drugs to the list on the basis of scientific evidence that the drugs work and are safe and profitable. The list of this year, published May 8 includes five new drugs that target the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 16 new drugs against cancer. Including expensive influential members of the list include sofosbuvir for HCV and drug Gleevec leukemia. (In rich countries, a full course of treatment with these drugs cost more than $ 75,000 per patient.) "We try to use the list as a lever to increase access and other actions at the global level" says Nicola Magrini, a pharmacologist in Bologna, Italy, and the top supervisor of the WHO EML.
many developing countries use EML to achieve their own lists, which help determine how much money they invest in the various drugs. "Call some" essential "drugs, it is clear that they are more important than others, and the countries conduct their attention to these drugs," said Magrini. But he stressed that the WHO "passes" country, but not "direct" and he also "did not participate in price fixing or price negotiation."
EML includes over 400 drugs and vaccines and focuses on common diseases and conditions. Magrini described the list as "a flag" a neutral party a drug "profitable" is of little use if the country can not afford it. " this demonstrates the need to redefine what it means cost efficiency, "said Magrini. "It is not part of the solution. This is part of the problem."
But Magrini says it still takes too long for many lifesaving drugs become widely available and puts EML identify gaps. For example, the manufacturer of sofosbuvir, Gilead Sciences Inc. of Foster City, California, sells drugs to Egypt at a discount and allows generic manufacturers in India to produce and sell in the 91 poorest countries. But advocates have criticized Gilead for not offering treats some 50 middle-income countries, and they hope the list, which the company actually asked EML-will create a dynamic of falling prices worldwide. "The list is a very smart tool," said Magrini.
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