Halozyme Therapeutics Inc (HALO)

[jamtomorrow2]

Roche has a long patent in the EU on the SQ version of Herceptin so I guess it’s just the worry that budget conscious EU medical authorities may prefer the cheap generic IV version to the more expensive SQ version. To hell with patient convenience eh!

Of course this is exactly the way that Roche has treated US patients where they haven’t bothered to get SQ Herceptin approved yet on the grounds that they will only do it just before the patent expires. I’ve always found that decision morally incomprehensible but Roche claims it’s the US doctors and hospitals that don’t want the SQ version because it will cut their profits (that long IV treatment takes more time and therefore more money for them).

It appears that patients take a very poor second place with everyone.