What will Gleevec (STI571) cost?
Novartis has spent “over 100 million dollars” to bring Gleevec to market. There a relatively small number of patients World wide who will need the drug. Novartis says that the drug will cost $2,000 to $2,400 American dollars per month for the average patient (depending on dose). This cost is on par with the cost of Interferon which has been the standard treatment for CML for the past decade. Novartis has set up a very generous Gleevec assistance program to help those patients who do not have insurance coverage and can not afford the drug. Call 1-877-Gleevec (1-877-453-3832) for information.
