Addressing the Cost of PARP Inhibitors
- PARP inhibitors have shown tremendous promise for many women with ovarian cancer.
- The drugs could potentially extend survival by as much as three years, but they are not without a high financial cost.
- Most of the time, insurance companies do cover FDA-approved PARP inhibitors.
- If cost is an issue, it is important to keep your oncologist in the loop; there may be ways to work with the drug company to adjust the cost of the drug.
In cases where cost becomes a barrier for women treated with PARP inhibitors, Dr. Helen Eshed, a gynecologic oncologist at Texas Oncology in Austin says that there may be some additional options available, such as working with drug companies to secure access.
Read More “The drug companies that produce the PARP inhibitors will often work with patients to adjust the cost to make it more reasonable for patients to receive,” says Dr. Eshed. If the cost of PARP inhibitors does present a barrier, it’s important to keep your oncologists and care team in the loop. After all, these drugs can present a tremendous benefit and no woman should have to forego this treatment for financial reasons. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released guidelines recommending PARP inhibitors be offered to women because these drugs can help women with and without genetic mutations.
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