The National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies into the Unified Health System (Conitec) recommended this Thursday (5) the incorporation of the drug betadinutuximab into the treatment of high-risk neuroblastoma. This means that the drug will be funded and distributed by the Unified Health System (SUS). The condition for treatment is that the patient has been previously treated with chemotherapy and achieved at least a partial response, followed by myeloablative therapy and stem cell transplant.
The request to incorporate the medicine was submitted to Conitec in January of this year by the pharmaceutical laboratory Recordati, which markets the medicine under the name Qarziba.
Neuroblastoma is the third most common type of childhood cancer, after leukemia and brain tumors. The drug, which costs around R$2 million, is indicated for high-risk or recurrent cases and has already been used on more than a thousand patients in 18 countries. According to the manufacturer, it improves survival, increases the likelihood of a cure and reduces the risk of the disease returning.
In January of this yeara fundraising campaign for the treatment of Pedro, son of indigenous rights activist Bruno Pereira, drew attention to the urgency of incorporating betadinuximab into the SUS. In just three days, the campaign reached its goal, but Pedro’s family joined forces to other families who also experience the difficulty access to medicines for the treatment of neuroblastoma.
At the Conitec meeting this Thursday, the incorporation of new medicines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease into the SUS was also approved. Check out the others committee deliberations here.
