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Dear Ms. Valenze: Thank you so much for your response to my query regarding how Novartis justifies $120,000 a year cost of Nilotinib. My interest and that of the Parkinson community was piqued when we learned this cancer drug showed promise for treatment of Parkinson’s disease. However, our elation was dampened when we were stunned to learn that “those who can’t afford them” is about everyone but Bill Gates!! Because Georgetown and Drs. Moussa and Pagan hold the patent, other research centers cannot test this drug for PD without their consent. Dr. Brian Druker told me the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society funded his development of this drug. I also learned that the NIH provides research grants for drug development. As an ovarian cancer survivor of almost 40 years, I did not appreciate the chemo that gave me seizures and huge hematomas, but the fact that my tumor was encapsulated. We have waited decades for help. If it comes wouldn’t Novartis rather have a great profit at reasonable drug cost than giving it free to the millions of us who can’t afford it? From: Valenze, Virginia Sent: Monday, November 30, 2015 8:19 AM To: Rayilyn Brown Subject: RE: Your Query Regarding Nilotinib Study Dear Ms. Brown, Thank you for sharing your additional thoughts, and my apologies for the delay in response. We understand patients’ concerns about being able to afford medications and do have programs to help. Let me share a little more background that may be of interest to you. When setting the price of our medicines, we consider several factors including the benefits they bring to patients, their positive impact on other healthcare costs and the investments needed for continued innovation in the fight against cancer. Investment in new medicines is a significant area of focus for us. In fact, we spent over $9 billion dollars in Research & Development across all Novartis companies in 2014. We also offer significant patient assistance programs for approved indications. The program provides our medicines for free or at a reduced cost to those who can’t afford them. Information about this can be found at Patient Assistance Now Oncology site www.oncologyaccessnow.com or by calling 1-800-282-7630. Thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. We do take this feedback seriously and are committed to working across the healthcare system to ensure that patients have access to medicines and that future innovative medicines are affordable. Best, Ginny Valenze Virginia A. Valenze Director, Advocacy & Alliance Development Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation One Health Plaza Building 200, Room 440 East Hanover, NJ 07936-1080 USA Phone: +1 862 778-6176 Fax: +1 973 781-8265 Cell: +1 862 926-7502 Ray Rayilyn Brown Past Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn