Expensive Drugs Research Articles

High-Cost Cancer Drug Use in Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are designed to incentivize the use of less expensive drugs through capitated payments, formulary control, and preauthorizations for certain drugs. These conditions may reduce spending on high-cost therapies for conditions such as cancer, a condition that is among the most expensive to treat. To determine whether patients insured by MA plans receive less high-cost drugs than those insured by traditional Medicare (TM). This cohort study used data from the linked Colorado All Payer Claims Database and Colorado Central Cancer Registry. This population-based cohort included adults 65 years and older insured by Medicare with prescription coverage who reside in Colorado and were diagnosed with colorectal (CRC) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between January 2012 and December 2021. The data were analyzed between December 2023 and August 2024. Enrollment in TM or MA insurance plans. Claims for chemotherapy and oral targeted agents were identified. Thresholds for high-cost drugs were based on the distribution of drug costs. Inverse probability weighted logistic regression for receiving any cancer drug and for receiving a high-cost cancer drug was estimated, controlling for patient and ecological characteristics. The sample was stratified by cancer site and local/regional and distant stage. Of 4240 patients included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 75 [7] years; 2327 [54.9%] female), 1991 were diagnosed with CRC and 2249 with NSCLC. A total of 1647 patients had local or regional CRC, and 344 had distant CRC; 1351 patients had local or regional NSCLC, and 898 had distant NSCLC. In the covariate-adjusted analysis, patients diagnosed with local or regional CRC who were insured by MA were 6.0 percentage points less likely to receive a cancer drug than similar patients insured by TM. Patients diagnosed with distant NSCLC were 10.0 percentage points less likely to receive a cancer drug if insured by MA. Among patients who received a cancer drug, patients insured by MA were less likely to receive a high-cost drug for local or regional CRC (by 10.0 percentage points) and distant CRC (by 9.0 percentage points). In this cohort study, high-cost drugs were more commonly prescribed among patients enrolled in TM and diagnosed with CRC. A similar pattern was not observed for patients with NSCLC, perhaps because clinical evidence suggests survival benefits to be associated only with certain drugs, all of which are expensive. Nonetheless, MA was modestly associated with reduced high-cost drug utilization and may reduce overall treatment costs.

Is the shift in treatment patterns towards new, more expensive drugs still driving the increase in pharmaceutical expenditure? A decomposition analysis of expenditure data in Sweden 1990–2022

ABSTRACT Background Pharmaceutical expenditures (PE) are increasing worldwide, raising concerns about sustainability. However, the current price index provides an incomplete picture of this trend due to the rapid introduction of new drugs on the market. Objective The aim of this study is to decompose PE into their components and investigate the development in Sweden from 1990 to 2022. Methods The PE index was broken down into separate indices for price, quantity, and a residual. The residual reflects changes in expenditure driven by shifts in drug treatment patterns. Results PE increased by 227% during the study period. The decomposition showed that this increase was mainly driven by the residual (215%). Drug quantity increased by 105%, while the relative prices decreased by 50%. When dividing the whole study period into three 11-year-subperiods, the increase in real drug expenditure, drug quantity, and the residual was the highest from 1990 to 2000. Conclusions The finding that the residual is the main driver indicates that the increase in PE is due to the introduction of and shift to more expensive pharmaceutical treatments, while existing treatments tend to become cheaper. Further research is needed to determine whether newer, more expensive drugs are indeed worth the extra cost.

Cost-Effective and Sustainable Drug Use in Hospitals: A Systematic and Practice-Based Approach.

Rising healthcare costs challenge the financial sustainability of healthcare systems. Interventional pharmacoeconomics has emerged as a vital discipline to improve the cost-effective and sustainable use of drugs in clinical practice. However, current efforts are often fragmented, highlighting the need for an integrated hospital-wide approach. This study aimed to develop a scalable framework to systematically identify and implement cost-effective and sustainable drug use practices in hospitals. This study was conducted at the Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam between December 2022 and July 2023. A novel '8-Step Efficiency Model' was designed to systematically identify and evaluate strategies for cost-effective and sustainable drug use. The process involved identifying high-expenditure drugs, systematically assessing these drugs using the Efficiency Model, and conducting a multi-disciplinary evaluation of the proposed cost-effectiveness strategies. The study assessed 39 high-cost drugs, representing 57% of the Dutch national expensive drug expenditure in 2021. Initiatives for enhancing cost-effectiveness and sustainability were identified or developed for 27 out of the 39 assessed drugs (51% of the national drug expenditure in 2021). Case examples of infliximab (e.g., wastage prevention) and intravenous immunoglobulins (e.g., lean body weight dosing) illustrate practical applications of the framework, resulting in substantial cost savings and improved sustainability. This study presents a systematic scalable model for enhancing the cost-effectiveness of high-expenditure drugs in hospital settings. This approach not only addresses financial sustainability but also promotes the quality of patient care and sustainable drug use. This model could serve as a generic blueprint for other institutions to identify and implement cost-effective and sustainable drug use strategies.

KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF SELF-MEDICATION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE BSN(GENERIC) STUDENTS

Self-medication is a widespread practice globally, particularly among healthcare students, posing risks such as drug misuse, delayed treatment, and antimicrobial resistance. Nursing students, as future healthcare providers, are a key demographic for evaluating self-medication practices. Objective: To assess the knowledge and practices of undergraduate BSN (Generic) students regarding self-medication at Superior University, Lahore. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 BSN (Generic) students. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, knowledge, and self-medication practices. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 26.Results: The study found that 57.1% of participants engaged in self-medication, with 60% acknowledging its harmful effects but 66.4% incorrectly believing antibiotics were necessary for the common cold. Unsafe practices included reusing prescriptions (57.9%) and increasing drug doses without professional consultation (58.6%). A significant proportion (60%) also believed that expensive drugs are more effective. Conclusion: Despite moderate knowledge, unsafe self-medication practices are prevalent among nursing students. Targeted educational programs and stricter regulatory measures are essential to address these gaps and promote safe medication behaviours among future healthcare providers.

Encoding Anticancer Potential of Zingerone: Bioinformatic and Molecular Docking Analysis Targeting Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer death globally, requiring research on molecular mechanisms for sustainable prevention and treatment. With expensive conventional drugs and severe side effects, novel medications are needed. Therefore, in the current investigation employing a bioinformatic approach, we explored the bioactive phytocompound zingerone for its anticancer efficacy targeting liver cancer. The study analyzed phytocompounds’ drug-like nature using SWISS ADME, finding them orally available and meeting Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, Egan, and Muegge rules. They showed good ADMET properties and strong interactions with apoptotic regulator target proteins, making them safe for commercial anticancer drugs. hGLUT, DDEFL1, HBx, BCl2 , AFP, NF kappa, and Heat Shock Protein 70 Shows good binding affinity in the range of -5.3 to -6.0 kcal/mol. The phytocompound zingerone shows good binding affinity with all target proteins (-5.8 to -6.0 kcal/mol), thereby possessing appreciable bonded and non-bonded interactions with the binding pockets of target proteins. This study’s findings could lead to the development of promising drug candidates for liver cancer, laying the foundation for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics.

PCR288 Input Parameters for Value-Based Alternative Payment Models in Expensive Drugs in the Western World: A Review and Use Case Study in the Netherlands

PCR288 Input Parameters for Value-Based Alternative Payment Models in Expensive Drugs in the Western World: A Review and Use Case Study in the Netherlands

A review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity for the genus Geum (Rosaceae).

The genus Geum (family Rosaceae) comprises about 70 species, of which several species have been characterized from Eurasia as notably as folk medicines for the treatment of anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diuretics and astringent. Phytochemical analysis indicated that Geum species produce monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenes, triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins, phenylpropanoids, and others compounds. Additionally, modern studies have found they possess diverse pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, cardiovascular, and antitumor effects. Regardless of the remarkable medical potential of Geum extracts, clinical studies are limited and need to be performed to produce safer and less expensive plant-based drugs. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Geum species, covering their traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities, and to summarize the current research status to better understand the application value of Geum plants in modern phytotherapy.

Impact of financial support on treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: A population-based, retrospective cohort study in Shanghai, China

BackgroundTo date, the prolonged treatment duration and expensive second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs (SLDs) for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) can impose a significant financial burden, which may negatively impact treatment outcomes. This study examines the effect of a subsidy policy on treatment outcomes of MDR-TB patient.. MethodsWe collected demographic and drug resistance data of all registered MDR-TB patients between April 2011 and December 2019 in Shanghai, China. Documentation of financial support received was routinely maintained until December 2021. We employed multivariate logistic regression to assess the association between financial support and treatment outcomes, estimating odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). ResultsOf the 865 patients, 70.6% (611/865) achieved treatment success. The median amount compensated under the subsidy policy was 2359 United States dollar (USD), with an interquartile range from 1116 to 5652 USD. A positive association was found between benefiting from the subsidy policy and higher rate of treatment success, with an adjusted OR of 2.95 (95% CI, 2.03–4.28). Among the 641 patients covered by the policy, the adjusted OR comparing those with higher versus lower reimbursement was 1.74 (95% CI, 1.16–2.61). ConclusionsFinancial support policies for MDR-TB patients demonstrate a positive influence on treatment outcomes.

Authors' reply to 'RE: A real-world survey on expensive drugs used as first-line chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric cancer in the stomach cancer study group of the Japan clinical oncology group'.

Authors' reply to 'RE: A real-world survey on expensive drugs used as first-line chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric cancer in the stomach cancer study group of the Japan clinical oncology group'.

Abstract 4138294: Medicare Utilization and Associated Spending on Icosapent Ethyl

Introduction: In 2019, Icosapent Ethyl became the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication for reducing cardiovascular risk beyond cholesterol-lowering therapy in high-risk patients. It was approved specifically as an adjunct to maximal tolerated statin therapy to reduce cardiovascular risk in adult patients with elevated triglyceride (TG) levels. The National Lipid Association now has a Class I recommendation for the use of icosapent ethyl (4 g/d) to reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with TG > 150 mg/dl. Methods: We analyzed available data from Medicare Part D prescription drug events published from the year 2018 to 2022. All data were de-identified and made publicly available. All costs were adjusted for inflation and represented in 2022 US dollars. Results: The number of Medicare Part D beneficiaries prescribed Icosapent Ethyl increased from 141,336 to 303,971 (215%) between 2018 and 2022 (Fig. A) and the number of claims increased from 704,334 to 1,527,133 (216%) (Fig. B). The total spending increased from $278 million to $787 million (282%) within the same timeframe (Fig. C). The average spending per claim has increased from $396 to $515 (130%) (Fig. D) and the average spending per beneficiary has also increased from $1976 to $2591 (131%) (Fig. E) between 2018 and 2022. Discussion: We observed a marked increase in the use of icosapent ethyl from 2018 to 2022. We can see a sharp rise of 187% in beneficiaries from 2018 to 2019 following FDA approval. The total number of claims and total spending also increased by 181% and 200%, respectively, from 2018 to 2019. The average spending per claim and average spending per beneficiary has increased from 2018 to 2022. It also demonstrates the cost burden to Medicare with the use of such lipid-lowering agents. Many Medicare plans include icosapent ethyl as a Tier 4 drug, which is the second most expensive drug tier. Limitations: The pattern of data used may not be generalizable to other payer demographics. Policy changes can affect the comparability of data over different periods. Conclusion: Our data highlights the increasing use of icosapent ethyl as a cardiovascular risk-reduction medication in the Medicare population. There has been a steady increase in the number of claims and beneficiaries since the approval of icosapent ethyl with an increase in average spending from 2018 to 2022.

Excessive Pharmaceutical Pricing and Repercussions on Paediatric Health Services

Context: Paediatric pharmaceutics have a significant share in expensive drugs. Recent years have seen significant calls for intervention against high prices for pharmaceutical products. The prohibition of prices that are excessive as a form of abuse of dominance is considered as Competition law violation in the European Union Law and national legal orders of its Member States. Majority of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries have similar prohibitions in their respective Competition laws with important exemption of United States (US) Antirust Law, although there is some indication of change in US exactly in the area of pharmaceutical sector. Regulation of excessive prices also exists in Competition laws of all BRICS (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa) countries. The problem of excessive prices in pharmaceutics is one of the emerging themes in Competition law literature and case law development. This is the area where intellectual property rights, usually patent protection, collide with competition rules. Costs of research and development for such pharmaceutics are often very high emphasizing the need for balance between colliding legitimate interests: access to health and research development. Aim: To present regulatory and case law development of application of excessive prices as form of abuse of dominance in pharmaceutical sector with emphasis on paediatric health services. Data source: OECD, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus. Conclusion: Balance between competition rules on excessive prices as form of abuse of dominance and intellectual property rights in the area of expensive paediatric pharmaceutics can be regarded as suboptimal. Thus, there is a need for further regulatory development and application of rules on excessive prices in that field.

Assessment of the impact of procurement centralization on the drug provision for patients within the High-Cost Nosology Program in the Russian Federation

Background. In the Russian Federation, patients receive expensive drugs from the federal budget funds within High-Cost Nosology (HCN) Program.Objective: to assess the impact of drug procurement centralization on the weighted average price (WAP) per 1 unit of measurement (UM) of a drug, the procurement structure within HCN Program over 5 years (2019–2023), as well as the annual volume of procurements for each nosology and the additional annual growth compared to the previous year.Material and methods. The data on public procurement within HCN Program, regional and federal drug provision programs over the specified time period have been analyzed. During the analysis of individual nosologies, 22 drugs for the treatment of 12 HCN have been considered.Results. The median value of the change of WAP per 1 UM for all drugs within HCN Program was 6.01%. Aplastic anemia was characterized by the lowest volume of procurements over 5 years, while for malignant neoplasms was the largest. The growth in procurements from year to year within nosologies varied from +1% to +661%, while a decrease was from –97% to –1%.Conclusion. The results can be used as a basis for further research related to the process of implementation of preferential drug provision, and to development of additional tools to improve the efficacy of pharmacotherapy choice for included drugs and management decisions regarding the further expansion of HCN Program.

Optimal co-development contracts for companion diagnostics

The market for companion diagnostics is expected to be a US$10.07 billion by 2026. Companion diagnostics have the potential to make expensive drugs cost-effective by identifying patients who would benefit from them. We consider the contract design problem between a pharmaceutical company which owns a drug that is effective for a particular subset of the patient population and a biotech company which owns some technology that could facilitate the development of a companion diagnostic. We obtain theoretical and practical results. We determine when both parties enter such a contract and fully characterize the optimal solutions in closed-form. We find sufficient conditions under which the optimal contract exhibits a particular structure. We show that the first-best can be achieved in some cases and identify sufficient conditions under which the biotech company would not work alone but participates in the project with the pharmaceutical company’s subsidy. We find that heuristics based on practical preferences could be costly to the pharmaceutical company and hence the principal should use the second-best solution; and contract type depends heavily on the biotech company’s workforce level, unit cost of workforce and information level.

Characteristics of High-Cost Beneficiaries of Prescription Drugs in Kazakhstan: A Cross-Sectional Study of Outpatient Data from 2022.

Limited information is available regarding the distribution of increasing pharmaceutical expenditures within large representative samples of national populations globally. The aim was to investigate the distribution of pharmaceutical costs in outpatient treatment and analyze the primary characteristics of users of expensive drugs within the healthcare system of Kazakhstan. This study utilized data from the Information System for Outpatient Drug Supply, which includes nationally representative data from all regions of Kazakhstan, covering both rural and urban populations. The key explanatory variables in this study included age, gender, number of prescribed medications, disease categories based on ICD-10 codes, and insurance coverage status. These variables were selected to capture demographic, clinical, and healthcare access factors influencing prescription drug costs. In total, 2.2 million people, who were prescribed outpatient medications were included. High-cost users (HCUs) were characterized as individuals whose prescription drug expenses ranked within the highest 5%. The distribution of pharmaceutical costs exhibits significant discrepancy, with 5% of the population receiving prescription drugs covered by the state budget and social medical insurance fund contributing to nearly three-quarters of all costs. Notably, these HCUs tended to be younger than low-cost drug users. HCUs, on average, consumed a greater quantity of medications compared to non-HCUs. Among children, the top diseases contributing to high costs were rare hereditary diseases and malignancies, while in adults, cancer and diabetes were the primary cost drivers. There is a concentration of public drug program spending within a small percentage of beneficiaries with high drug costs in Kazakhstan. This discovery offers valuable insights for shaping policies tailored to this specific population, aiming to mitigate escalating costs and enhance the optimal use of medications.

RE: A real-world survey on expensive drugs used as first-line chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric cancer in the stomach cancer study group of the Japan clinical oncology group.

RE: A real-world survey on expensive drugs used as first-line chemotherapy in patients with HER2-negative unresectable advanced/recurrent gastric cancer in the stomach cancer study group of the Japan clinical oncology group.

Proton-pump inhibitor use in older adults: Public vs. Private Prescribing in Portugal

Abstract Background Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are frequently overprescribed, posing challenges to patients and healthcare systems. In Portugal, the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS) provides universal coverage and reimburses the cost of medications regardless of the prescription origin. If private practices may benefit from longer consultation times allowing better prescription, they do not face any incentive to avoid over-prescription. We aimed to compare outpatient prescription trends, patterns, and costs of PPI among older adults in private and public sectors. Methods Nationwide retrospective ecological study on PPI prescribed for older adults in Portugal 2020-2022. Data on defined daily doses (DDD) and costs were obtained from a national public database by healthcare sector, sex (female/male), and age group (65-74, ≥75). We analysed trends, market share of DDD per 1000 older adults per day (DID), and mean cost per DDD (€/DDD) for all PPI substances. Results We observed a decrease in prescribed PPI from 349.0 DID in 2020 to 341.9 DID in 2022. Omeprazole (reference and cheaper substance) was the most prescribed drug for females and pantoprazole for males in the public sector. Similar pattern was observed among those aged ≥75 in the private sector while for those aged 65-74, esomeprazole was the most prescribed drug. Overall, the private sector prescribed PPI with a 20% higher price (0.126 €/DDD) than the public (0.106 €/DDD), with greater differences among the most expensive substances (rabeprazole +0.032 €/DDD; lansoprazole +0.029 €/DDD; esomeprazole +0.021 €/DDD). Conclusions PPI prescription followed similar trends in both sectors, but private practitioners tend to prescribe more expensive drugs, because their patients can afford them and because there is no incentive for more rational prescription. Since the NHS financially supports drugs prescribed in private practices, financial incentives towards rationale prescription should also fall in this sector. Key messages • Overall, the private sector prescribed PPI with a 20% higher price (0.126 €/DDD) than the public (0.106 €/DDD), with greater differences among the most expensive substances. • Since the National Health Service financially supports drugs prescribed in private practices, financial incentives towards rationale prescription should also fall in this sector.

Towards the prediction of drug solubility in binary solvent mixtures at various temperatures using machine learning

Drug solubility is an important parameter in the drug development process, yet it is often tedious and challenging to measure, especially for expensive drugs or those available in small quantities. To alleviate these challenges, machine learning (ML) has been applied to predict drug solubility as an alternative approach. However, the majority of existing ML research has focused on the predictions of aqueous solubility and/or solubility at specific temperatures, which restricts the model applicability in pharmaceutical development. To bridge this gap, we compiled a dataset of 27,000 solubility datapoints, including solubility of small molecules measured in a range of binary solvent mixtures under various temperatures. Next, a panel of ML models were trained on this dataset with their hyperparameters tuned using Bayesian optimization. The resulting top-performing models, both gradient boosted decision trees (light gradient boosting machine and extreme gradient boosting), achieved mean absolute errors (MAE) of 0.33 for LogS (S in g/100 g) on the holdout set. These models were further validated through a prospective study, wherein the solubility of four drug molecules were predicted by the models and then validated with in-house solubility experiments. This prospective study demonstrated that the models accurately predicted the solubility of solutes in specific binary solvent mixtures under different temperatures, especially for drugs whose features closely align within the solutes in the dataset (MAE < 0.5 for LogS). To support future research and facilitate advancements in the field, we have made the dataset and code openly available.Scientific contributionOur research advances the state-of-the-art in predicting solubility for small molecules by leveraging ML and a uniquely comprehensive dataset. Unlike existing ML studies that predominantly focus on solubility in aqueous solvents at fixed temperatures, our work enables prediction of drug solubility in a variety of binary solvent mixtures over a broad temperature range, providing practical insights on the modeling of solubility for realistic pharmaceutical applications. These advancements along with the open access dataset and code support significant steps in the drug development process including new molecule discovery, drug analysis and formulation.Graphical

Drug Repurposing for Rare (Orphan) Diseases—Scope and Limitations

Effective and affordable treatment for rare diseases remains a huge challenge. Only a few drugs have made inroads into the therapeutic arena for rare diseases. The current focus is shifted to different uses for expensive new drugs, referred to as drug repurposing. It is also called drug repositioning or reprofiling, refers to the identification of new therapeutic applications of existing or investigational drugs. This concept and novel approaches have promising role in the treatment of many potentially incurable diseases, particularly certain forms of cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, immunological disorders and uncommon infectious diseases. There are huge expectations filled with optimism that the drug repurposing would offer fresh opportunities for the treatment and management of rare diseases. This is undoubtedly more relevant for low and middle income countries.

Increasing the productivity of oil flax in the Central Non-Black Earth region

Oil fl ax is a valuable oil crop with a wide range of applications, the raw materials of which are used in the food, technical, chemical, pharmaceutical industries and feed production. In terms of metabolism energy content, fl ax seed surpasses the grain of legumes, cereals and oilseeds. Due to the combination of high energy nutritional value and a large content of useful organic elements, fl ax has a unique biological value. In terms of amino acid composition, fl ax seed is similar to soy protein, but it contains less lysine than soy. Flaxseed presscake obtained during oil production is the most valuable among other types of presscake. Adding waste from fl ax seeds to presscake and meal for young livestock is a proven and good preventive measure that allows reducing the use of expensive synthetic drugs. The purpose of the research was to study the possibility of increasing the productivity of oil fl ax in the Central Non-Black Earth region. Under the conditions of the Central part of the Non-Chernozem zone, on sod-podzolic heavy loamy soils, in multifactorial field experiments, comprehensive studies were carried out on the effect of various techniques (previous crop, use of microfertilizers, level of mineral nutrition, chemical measures of weed control) included in the cultivation technology to obtain diff erent levels of the planned yield of oil flax. It was found that for agricultural production it is possible to recommend the use of winter wheat in crop rotation as a predecessor for oil fl ax, application of mineral fertilizer at the rate of N175P20K65, calculated to obtain the planned yield of 2.5 t/ha, treatment of crops with a mixture of herbicides Hacker, VRG, 80 g/ha + Gerbitox, VRK, 0.8 l/ha, microfertilizer Micropolidoc Plus at a dose of 0.5 l/ha in the “herringbone” phase when the fl ax plants are 8–10 cm tall.

Investigating the availability, affordability, and market dynamics of innovative oncology drugs in Morocco: an original report.

The cost of cancer drugs presents a significant challenge to accessibility of treatment worldwide. Projections indicate that by 2040, two-thirds of cancer cases will occur in low- and middle- income countries. Paradoxically, despite this impending burden, LMICs command less than 5% share of global resources for treating cancer. Morocco, like many LMICs, faces significant obstacles in providing innovative cancer treatments to its population. Firstly, we aimed to conduct an original research investigating the availability and affordability of innovative cancer drugs in Morocco. Secondly, we sought to review the broader market dynamics, pricing, and reimbursement policies in the country. For the first objective, we identified a preliminary list of medicines approved for oncological indications in the Moroccan market based on resources from ANAM (National Agency for Health Insurance), pharmacy regulators, and online resources that compile information on approved medicines. For the second objective, we exhaustively reviewed the regulatory documents, legal texts and grey literature reports. All the informations were examined by pharma delegates and local experts. As of January 2024, Morocco has 39 innovative anticancer medicines with market authorization. 30% of these drugs were approved after 2020. The majority of approved drugs were for breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate cancer. The period between FDA approval and entry into the Moroccan market ranges from 2 to 7years, with a median of 3years for breast cancer drugs and 7years for more expensive drugs like Olaparib and Osimertinib. 22 out of the 39 drugs are not reimbursed, with an average reimbursement time of 4years. Compared to prices in France, the most notable pricing disparities concern immunotherapy agents, priced 600 to 900 euros lower in France, while drugs like Pazopanib and Erlotinib cost 50% less in Morocco. Our study reveals significant disparities in the availability and affordability of innovative cancer drugs in Morocco. Regulatory hurdles, importation challenges, and pricing strategies contribute to this inequitable landscape. Addressing systemic barriers, fostering collaborations between stakeholders, and adopting a value-based pricing approach are imperative steps toward ensuring equitable access to high-quality interventions for patients, regardless of their geographical location.