Cost issue simmering in Medicare’s Dendreon review

market in April to treat men with advanced prostate Canada Goose Outlet cancer after company data showed it help men Canada Goose sale live another 4.1 months. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which is deciding whether to pay for the treatment for the millions of older men in the nation Medicare insurance program.

Its ruling is critical not only for patients seeking the canada goose uk black friday therapy, canada goose but also the biotech sales.

Nationwide Medicare coverage could ensure the product success, but any limitations or a denial could sharply dent sales. Private insurers are also likely to follow suit.

Although CMS and its advisers can only canada goose uk shop legally consider whether use of the vaccine is and necessary, cost is lurking canada goose coats in the background.

is overwhelmingly used in the Medicare population, and Canada Goose online that is a red flag, said David Blaszczak, a health policy analyst for Potomac Research Group who follows CMS. a high volume, high cost procedure.

won come up at the meeting, but I think cost is canada goose store at play, Blaszczak told Reuters.

On Wednesday, CMS outside advisers will discuss use of the biotech vaccine and offer recommendations. Agency officials are due buy canada goose jacket cheap to canada goose outlet store make an early decision in March before finalizing their Canada Goose Parka payment rule by the end of June.

SIDE CONVERSATION Canada Goose Coats On Sale Seattle based Dendreon links Provenge hefty price tag to the product unique manufacturing.

Cells from a patient tumor are removed and incorporated into a vaccine, then injected back into the patient. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent disease, Provenge stimulates the body immune system to attack malignant cells.

Dendron officials have declined to talk ahead of the meeting.

It not clear uk canada goose outlet exactly how much Medicare could end up spending on buy canada goose jacket Provenge, although analysts so far expect overall peak sales of nearly $2.3 billion in 2016, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The government National Cancer Institute estimates nearly 218,000 men will be thecanadagooseoutlet diagnosed with the disease this year. But not all cases are advanced canada goose clearance enough to qualify for Provenge and not all of patients would necessarily be enrolled in Medicare.

While Medicare cheap canada goose uk potential spending on one treatment is not likely to bankrupt the canada goose uk outlet popular insurance program, the debate over costs comes amid larger worries about its overall fiscal health and the nation swelling deficit. deficit commission called for sweeping changes to the program in an effort to reduce costs.

may play a side conversation uk canada goose role, but you not going to see cost creep into any sort of coverage decision, Thornton told Reuters.

Cancer therapy in general can cost Canada Goose Online tens of thousands of dollars, especially when side effects arise. But unlike other cancer drugs, which can see costs stretched over months or years, Provenge three doses are Canada Goose Jackets given canada goose black friday sale just two weeks apart.

Patient canada goose factory sale groups in particular want cost off the table.

think that a debate that not going to concern CMS, said Kerry Donahue, a lawyer for CareToLive, cheap Canada Goose a canada goose coats on sale group representing doctors, patients and Dendreon investors that pushed for Provenge FDA approval. agency should not get involved in looking at the cost.

In calling for the meeting, CMS said it will focus on the current evidence about the benefits and harms of Provenge when used as canadian goose jacket approved canada goose clearance sale for advanced prostate cancer as well as wider, use.

Many analysts expect the agency to ultimately cover the vaccine for FDA approved use, although Medicare could also seek additional data as a condition of its payment.