Another shock came in January 2013, when the
price of
imatinib, which had cost around $25,000 a year, suddenly shot up to $90,000 per year. This is despite the fact that the development costs were recouped years ago, and that new indications have since been approved for the drug, increasing sales volume, Dr. Kantarjian reported. There was a huge outcry from both patients and doctors at this price hike, but to no avail.
It was these 2 events that sparked the idea for the paper, Dr.