Biotech Values

[masterlongevity]

these trials do not show statistical significance and therefore the results are anecdotal. Neither drug has shown a survival advantage over rituxan, both are much more diffiicult to administer and for patients to withstand. People who are given bexxar are so radiactive that they can't be in aroom with another human being for 8 days. these drugs are inconvenient, more expensive, cause more side effects and have not shown a survival advantage over rituxan.
SWOG began running a trial in 1999 comparing CHOP to CHOP + Rituxan to CHOP + Bexxar. The CHOP arm was dropped in 2001 because Rituxan CHOP became SOC. Even so, the trial has still taken over 8 yrs to enroll because drs. can;t get pts to sign up to receive CHOp+ Bexxar. THe survival results are due in 2009, so then you will have an answer. until then, this argument has no legs.

physicians cannot be forced to give drugs to a patient when a patient doesn't want it. In Europe, the dunding committes such as NICE would never reimburse these drugs because Rituxan is already so cost effective and generally a very effective medicine.