More meds in the state-subsidized basket

Among the drugs that the committee has recommended adding to the "basket" of state-subsidized medicines are Revlimid, at a cost of NIS 24.2 million for 140 people with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy that has failed. The annual per-person cost of Revlimid is about NIS 173,000. Last year the committee advised against adding it to the basket, in favor of immunizations for premature infants and an anti-incontinence drug.

The full list of the recommended drugs and treatments has been posted on the Health Ministry Web site: www.health.gov.il/

Three drugs for metastatic kidney cancer are to be added to the basket: Afinitor, Sutent and Nexavar, at a total cost of NIS 34.6 million. These drugs, which can prolong life for four months, are estimated to cost between NIS 111,000 and NIS 128,000 per patient per year.

Also new to the health basket next year, if the committee's recommendations are accepted, is Erbitux, to treat 60 patients a year suffering from metastatic head and neck cancer. Alimta and Iressa, to treat 953 lung cancer patients, will also be added.

The drugs Herceptin and Tykerb, for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in 200 patients per year is on the list of recommendations, along with the anti-HIV drug Intelense for 170 patients a year.

The committee recommended that the state pay for PET-CT scans to diagnose possibly metastacized testicular cancer for 13 patients a year.

Azilect for the treatment of 3,000 people with Parkinson's disease is to be added to the basket, as is Provigil for the treatment of daytime sleepiness among people with multiple sclerosis and a number of drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease (Exelon, Aricept, Memorit and Asenta).

For 5,895 people with diabetes, the state is to pay for Victosa and Byetta. The drug Abilify is to be made available for 3,300 people with schizophrenia.

Treatments are to be subsidized for 500 people with severe psoriasis (on more than 50 percent of the body).

Drugs that did not make it into the health basket this year are Exjade, for seniors who suffer from excess iron, Zomera for breast cancer and Lucentis for age-related macular degeneration. The committee has rejected Lucentis for the past three years because Avastin is available to treat this condition.