The UN health agency has prequalified the biosimilar version of the medicine trastuzumab, which has shown high efficacy in curing early stage breast cancer and, in some cases, more advanced forms of the disease.

Trastuzumab normally costs around $20,000 per course, putting it out of reach for many women and healthcare systems. The biosimilar version, derived from biological sources, is around 65 per cent cheaper.

Prequalification means that W.H.O. has assessed the medicine and it meets international standards, thus making it eligible for procurement by national health authorities.

“W.H.O. prequalification of biosimilar trastuzumab is good news for women everywhere,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the W.H.O. Director-General.

“Women in many cultures suffer from gender disparity when it comes to accessing health services. In poor countries, there is the added burden of a lack of access to treatment for many, and the high cost of medicines. Effective, affordable breast cancer treatment should be a right for all women, not the privilege of a few.”

Although other biosimilar versions of trastuzumab are available, this marked the first time one has been prequalified by W.H.O..

Some 2.1 million women contracted the disease in 2018, with 630,000 dying because of late diagnosis and lack of access to affordable treatment.

W.H.O. projects that rates will reach 3.1 million by 2040, with low- and middle-income countries recording the greatest increase.

Source: W.H.O.