Ribociclib
Prelims:
Polity &
Health
Mains:
GS Paper II: issues
relating to healthcare access and affordability
Current relevance:
The
Kerala High Court has allowed a breast cancer patient from Malappuram
to be impleaded in a case concerning the allegedly exorbitant price of the
life-saving breast cancer medicine Ribociclib.
Highlights:
About Ribociclib:
1.
Ribociclib
is an antineoplastic (anti-cancer) medicine belonging to the class of
protein kinase inhibitors.
2.
Major
Use: It is used in hormone
receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative breast cancer, including
certain early breast cancers at high risk of recurrence and locally
advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
3.
Combination
Therapy: Ribociclib is
generally used with endocrine (hormonal) therapy—such as an aromatase
inhibitor or fulvestrant, depending on the clinical setting.
4.
It
is an oral prescription medicine. EMA describes a treatment schedule of
once-daily tablets for 21 days followed by a 7-day break, forming a
28-day cycle; treatment and dosing require specialist medical supervision.
5.
Ribociclib
may cause side effects such as reduced white blood-cell counts, infections,
nausea, fatigue and abnormal liver-function tests.
6.
It
may also cause a concentration-dependent increase in the QTc interval,
requiring attention to cardiac safety monitoring.
Source: THE HINDU - https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-hc-allows-breast-cancer-patient-to-be-impleaded-in-case-on-exorbitant-prices-of-medicines/article71381039.ece