Cancer patients administered harder chemotherapy drugs than needed will start getting the proper dose after Times of Malta prompted the Government into action.

“The Government will be providing the lower doses following positive negotiations with the Maltese agent,” a spokesman for the Health Ministry said. Times of Malta revealed last month that patients with multiple myeloma – a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow – were being given a dose of the medicine Revlimid that is too strong for their condition. This was happening because the prices for lower doses quoted by the local agent exceeded the Government’s payment limit.  As a consequence, patients treated with Revlimid experienced side effects such as breathlessness, severe coughs and weakened immune systems unnecessarily. 

A woman receiving the treatment told Times of Malta she was glad to hear that lower doses would be administered and was waiting for the drug to arrive.

“Hopefully, the side effects will not be as bad. I want to be able to be treated for my cancer without feeling weaker to the extent that I can’t function,” said the woman, who is over 60.

One of eight multiple myeloma sufferers being treated with Revlimid, the woman was being given 25mg doses though her consultant told her she needs 15mg.

The Health Ministry said dose adjustments were recommended to manage different conditions or toxicity related to the drug.

This newspaper sent questions on the matter to the local agent, AM Mangion, and the Health Ministry.

A spokesman for the agent said the prices it quoted were set by the mother company, “which is in full control of international pricing of its products”.

Times of Malta then asked the ministry whether, in such circumstances, it would consider revising its set prices so that the local agent could bid within the payment range.

A ministry spokesman said a meeting with the agent was held. The negotiations, he added, “had the desired outcome and the medicine will now be procured within the reference price”.

Lenalidomide, the active substance in Revlimid, blocks tumour cells, prevents the growth of blood vessels within tumours and stimulates some specialised immune system cells to attack cancerous cells, according to the European Medicines Agency.

Revlimid comes in 25mg, 15mg, 10mg and 5mg doses but Mater Dei Hospital only stocked the 25mg pill.

The other doses would soon be available, the ministry spokes-man said.

ccalleja@timesofmalta.com

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