WHO prequalifies first biosimilar medicine - trastuzumab - in a move that could make this expensive, life-saving breast cancer treatment more affordable and available to women globally bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
#WHOPrequalification
#WHOPrequalification
@WHOAFRO @pahowho @WHOSEARO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO @WHO_Europe Trastuzumab was included in the WHO Essential Medicines List in 2015 as an essential treatment for about 20% of breast cancers.
It has shown high efficacy in curing early stage #breastcancer and in some cases more advanced forms of the disease bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
It has shown high efficacy in curing early stage #breastcancer and in some cases more advanced forms of the disease bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
@WHOAFRO @pahowho @WHOSEARO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO @WHO_Europe Like generic medicines, biosimilars can be much less expensive versions of innovator biotherapeutics while keeping the same effectiveness.
They are usually manufactured by other companies once the patent on the original product has expired
bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
They are usually manufactured by other companies once the patent on the original product has expired
bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
@WHOAFRO @pahowho @WHOSEARO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO @WHO_Europe Biotherapeutics are pharmaceutical products derived from biological and living sources. They include therapeutic vaccines, blood, blood components, cells, gene therapies, tissues and other materials.
bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
@WHOAFRO @pahowho @WHOSEARO @WHOWPRO @WHOEMRO @WHO_Europe Yearly cost of trastuzumab from originator companies can be as high as USD20,000 on average, a price that puts it out of reach of many women and healthcare systems in most countries bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
The biosimilar version of trastuzumab is generally 65% cheaper than the originator. With this WHO listing, and more products expected in the prequalification pipeline, prices should decrease even further bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
#WHOPrequalification is a service provided by WHO to assess the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products that address global public health priorities
bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
#Breastcancer is the most common form of cancer in women.
2.1 million women contracted breast cancer in 2018.
630,000 of them died from the disease, many because of late diagnosis and lack of access to affordable treatment bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
2.1 million women contracted breast cancer in 2018.
630,000 of them died from the disease, many because of late diagnosis and lack of access to affordable treatment bit.ly/2Qb0fsn
