Cost of a Stem Cell Therapy? An Estimated $512,000
By Dr. Matthew Watson
The likely costs of potential stem cell therapies
and cures receive almost no attention in the media as well as
publicly from scientists and the biotech firms.
and cures receive almost no attention in the media as well as
publicly from scientists and the biotech firms.
Usually any public discussion is
obliquely framed in the context of “reimbursement,” as if
industry is owed something instead of making a business decision
about what will make a profit. Euphemisms and jargon cloak unpleasant realities such as astronomical patient costs. But what reimbursement really involves are, in fact, pricing decisions and profit margins along with
lobbying campaigns for inclusion of
therapies in normal coverage of health insurance and Medicare.
obliquely framed in the context of “reimbursement,” as if
industry is owed something instead of making a business decision
about what will make a profit. Euphemisms and jargon cloak unpleasant realities such as astronomical patient costs. But what reimbursement really involves are, in fact, pricing decisions and profit margins along with
lobbying campaigns for inclusion of
therapies in normal coverage of health insurance and Medicare.
And today a singular figure – $512,000
for one stem cell treatment – appeared in the Wall Street
Journal . The story by Kosaku Narioka and Phred Dvorak dealt
with what would be the first-ever human study of a treatment that
uses reprogrammed adult stem cells.
for one stem cell treatment – appeared in the Wall Street
Journal . The story by Kosaku Narioka and Phred Dvorak dealt
with what would be the first-ever human study of a treatment that
uses reprogrammed adult stem cells.
They reported that the study received
preliminary approval on Wednesday from a key panel of the Japan
Health Ministry. The treatment involves a form of age-related macular
degeneration, which has also been targeted by the California stem
cell agency with different approaches.
preliminary approval on Wednesday from a key panel of the Japan
Health Ministry. The treatment involves a form of age-related macular
degeneration, which has also been targeted by the California stem
cell agency with different approaches.
Buried deep in the Wall Street Journal
article, with little other discussion, was this sentence:
article, with little other discussion, was this sentence:
“One eventual obstacle, even if tests
go well, could be cost: (Masayuki) Yamato (of Tokyo Women's Medical
University) says initial estimates for the treatment run around ¥50
million ($512,000) per person."
The subject of costs for potential stem
cell treatments has rattled around in the background for years
without much deep public discussion. One reason is that high costs of
treatments are controversial and can trigger emotional debate.
Another reason is that it is very early in the therapy development
process and estimates are not likely to be entirely reliable.
cell treatments has rattled around in the background for years
without much deep public discussion. One reason is that high costs of
treatments are controversial and can trigger emotional debate.
Another reason is that it is very early in the therapy development
process and estimates are not likely to be entirely reliable.
A few years ago, however, the California stem
cell agency commissioned a study involving costs of stem cell therapies. The UC Berkeley report said,
cell agency commissioned a study involving costs of stem cell therapies. The UC Berkeley report said,
“The cost impact of the therapy is
likely to be high, because of a therapy’s high cost per patient,
and the potentially large number of individuals who might benefit
from the therapy. This expense would put additional stress on
the Medicare and Medicaid budgets, cause private
insurance health premiums to increase, and create an incentive for
private plans to avoid covering individuals eligible for a therapy.”
The findings did not seem to be exactly
welcomed. The agency sat on the 2009 study for seven months until it
was uncovered by the California Stem Cell Report in April 2010. Then
the agency was careful to say that the study did not reflect the view
of CIRM management or board leadership.
welcomed. The agency sat on the 2009 study for seven months until it
was uncovered by the California Stem Cell Report in April 2010. Then
the agency was careful to say that the study did not reflect the view
of CIRM management or board leadership.
Their wariness of being out in front on the issue could be well-advised. The pharmaceutical industry received some unpleasant attention this spring when more than 100 influential cancer specialists from more than 15 countries publicly denounced the cost of cancer drugs that exceed more than $100,000 a year.
Nonetheless pricing is critical
to both patient accessibility and therapy development. If companies
cannot make a profit on a possible therapy, it is virtually certain
not to appear in the marketplace.
to both patient accessibility and therapy development. If companies
cannot make a profit on a possible therapy, it is virtually certain
not to appear in the marketplace.
While the subject remains in the
background, it does not mean there is a lack of interest. The copy of
the Berkeley stem cell cost study that was posted online by the California
Stem Cell Report has been read 11,701 times since it was made
available in April 2010 on scribd.com.
background, it does not mean there is a lack of interest. The copy of
the Berkeley stem cell cost study that was posted online by the California
Stem Cell Report has been read 11,701 times since it was made
available in April 2010 on scribd.com.
A copy of the study can be found below.
- 001 International Stem Cell Corporation Provides Strategic Update on its Skin Care Program [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2010]
- 002 CSC news roundup 2010-04-11 [Last Updated On: April 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 12th, 2010]
- 003 International Stem Cell Corporation Engages Leading Immunogeneticists to Advance its Industry-first, Immune-matched Stem Cells [Last Updated On: April 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 14th, 2010]
- 004 MicroRNA therapy could be a powerful tool to correct the CSC dysregulation? [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2010]
- 005 CSC news links 2010-04-18 [Last Updated On: April 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 19th, 2010]
- 006 Sessions on CSC Therapeutics at AACR10 [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2010]
- 007 More about presentations at AACR10 [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2010]
- 008 International Stem Cell Corporation Signs Financing Agreement [Last Updated On: May 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 6th, 2010]
- 009 CSC news links 2010-05-08 [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2010]
- 010 International Stem Cell and Absorption Systems Confirm Results Showing Stem Cell Derived Corneal Tissue as an Alternative to Animals for Drug Testing [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2010]
- 011 Generic drug a potential treatment for glioblastoma? [Last Updated On: May 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 14th, 2010]
- 012 US Patent: Isolation and use of solid tumor stem cells [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2010]
- 013 International Stem Cell Corporation and The Automation Partnership Enter into Strategic Alliance to Automate Cornea Tissue Production [Last Updated On: May 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 19th, 2010]
- 014 An evolving concept of CSC in tumor biology [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2010]
- 015 International Stem Cell Corporation Moves International Cornea Development Program Forward [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2010]
- 016 Phase I clinical trial of ICT-107 [Last Updated On: June 3rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 3rd, 2010]
- 017 CSCs responsible for metastasis identified [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2010]
- 018 International Stem Cell Corporation's Parthenogenetic Stem Cell Patent is Approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2010]
- 019 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Company Update Conference Call. ISCO Chairman Kenneth Aldrich to Discuss 'Status of the Company' [Last Updated On: June 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 10th, 2010]
- 020 Decitabine may target ovarian CSCs? [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2010]
- 021 New Article from North County Times - BIOTECH: International Stem Cell Clears Debt, Gets Patent [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2010]
- 022 Patent application: Levels of Oct1 as a method of identifying CSCs [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2010]
- 023 OncoMed Has 'Wnt' in its Sails [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2010]
- 024 International Stem Cell Corporation Names Charles J. Casamento to Board of Directors [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2010]
- 025 International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCO.OB) Announces New Patent Issuance Under License Agreement [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2010]
- 026 California Health Institute Interviews Jeffrey Janus - CEO of Lifeline Cell Technology [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2010]
- 027 International Stem Cell Corporation - Excerpt from Agora Financial's Breakthrough Technology Alert by Patrick Cox [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2010]
- 028 Melanoma-initiating cells identified [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2010]
- 029 International Stem Cell Corporation and Sankara Nethralaya Launch Collaboration to Develop Stem Cell-Based Treatment for Corneal Vision Impairment [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2010]
- 030 Two recent OA articles [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2010]
- 031 Innovative Researcher Vlog [Last Updated On: July 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 16th, 2010]
- 032 More about salinomycin [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2010]
- 033 International Stem Cell Corporation Plans $10 Million Financing Through European Subsidiary [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2010]
- 034 Irradiating brain's stem cell niche [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2010]
- 035 Prostate CSCs sensitive to gamma-tocotrienol? [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2010]
- 036 Researchers Study CSCs as Therapeutic Targets for Mesothelioma [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2010]
- 037 International Stem Cell Corporation and Sristi Biosciences Enter Distribution Agreement for Lifeline Cell Technology's Brand of Human Cell Culture... [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2010]
- 038 Disagreement about melanoma CSCs [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2010] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2010]
- 039 Cell of origin for human prostate cancer [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2010]
- 040 International Stem Cell Corporation - Breakthrough Technology Alert [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2010]
- 041 Oxygen, hypoxia and the stem cell niche [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2010]
- 042 Partnership Pays Off [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2010]
- 043 Video: Summary of Recent Developments in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine from Kenneth Aldrich, Chairman of International Stem Cell Corporation [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2010] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2010]
- 044 International Stem Cell Corporation Formalizes Stem Cell Based Eye Care Programs into Cytovis™ [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 045 International Stem cell Corporation Chairman Discusses Recent Stem Cell Research Funding Decision [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 046 International Stem Cell Corporation Not Adversely Affected by Stem Cell Research Funding Ban [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 047 A Primer on the Use of Stem Cells in Ophthalmology by Irving J. Arons [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 048 Kenneth Aldrich, Chairman and Co-Founder of International Stem Cell Corporation will be making two public appearances this week on behalf of ISCO. [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 049 International Stem Cell Corporation Reports Significant Progress Towards Creation of the First Bank of Immune-Matched Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 050 International Stem Cell Corporation and Insight Bioventures India Structure Indian Affiliate to Develop Stem Cell-Based Eye Care Therapeutics... [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 051 ISCO to Present Data on Progress of Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cell Differentiation into Functional Liver Cells at the Annual Meeting... [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 052 Putative tumor-initiating progenitor cells predict poor lung cancer prognosis [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 053 Therapeutic implications of colon CSCs [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 054 Selective targeting of neuroblastoma tumour-initiating cells [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 055 Two Open Access reviews [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 056 Isolation and killing of candidate CML stem cells by antibody targeting [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 057 Some breast cancer tumors may not originate from stem cells? [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 058 On the low frequency of tumor-initiating cells [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 059 Must the last CML cell be killed? [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 060 Critical molecular pathways in CSCs of CML [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 061 Insights into the stem cells of CML [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- 062 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Launch Plans for New Skin Care Products [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2010]
- 063 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Completion of Its First Manufacturing Run of Lifeline Skin Care's Stem Cell-Based Skin Rejuvenation... [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2010]
- 064 Notes from The Chairman Concerning ISCO Price Fluctuations [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2010]
- 065 Heightened Interest from the Medical Research Community and New Funding of International Stem Cell Corporation's (ISCO) Therapeutic Research [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2010] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2010]
- 066 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces the Commercial Launch of Its Breakthrough Stem Cell-Based Line of Skin Care Products [Last Updated On: December 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 10th, 2010]
- 067 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Commercial Sales to General Public of Its Breakthrough Stem Cell-Based Lines of Skin Care Products [Last Updated On: December 10th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 10th, 2010]
- 068 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces $25 Million Common Stock Financing Agreement [Last Updated On: December 15th, 2010] [Originally Added On: December 15th, 2010]
- 069 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Start of Marketing Collaboration with John Mauldin for Skin Care Products [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2011]
- 070 International Stem Cell Corporation to Present Ethical and Technical Qualities of Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells at the Center for Ethics in Science [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2011]
- 071 Two new initiatives from the CSCC [Last Updated On: January 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 3rd, 2011]
- 072 A difference between normal and cancer SC biology in the nervous system [Last Updated On: January 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 7th, 2011]
- 073 International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Company Update Conference Call [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2011]
- 074 International Stem Cell Corporation Applauds Research Showing Parthenogenesis as a Potential Strategy for Treating Inherited Disease [Last Updated On: January 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 15th, 2011]
- 075 International Stem Cell's Scientists in Collaboration with World Leading Stem Cell Experts Extend Understanding of Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells... [Last Updated On: January 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: January 26th, 2011]
- 076 International Stem Cell Corporation: A Multitude Of Potential Products From Its Parthenogenesis Technology by Jason Chew [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2011]
- 077 International Stem Cell Corporation Demonstrates Progress in the Use of Immune Matched Human Parthenogenetic Stem Cells to Promote the Development... [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2011]
- 078 International Stem Cell Corporation: Note From The CEO Andrey Semechkin [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2011]
- 079 "A Little Egg On the Face" - LifeLine Skin Care Stem Cell Cream Article [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2011]
- 080 International Stem Cell Corporation Updates on 2010 Initial Product Launch of its Lifeline Skin Care Products [Last Updated On: March 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: March 6th, 2011]

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