Title: International differences in cancer survival rates: the role of new drug launches

Authors: Frank R. Lichtenberg

Addresses: Columbia University, 614 Uris Hall, 3022 Broadway, New York, 10027, NY, USA

Abstract: We investigate the effect of availability of new drugs on survival from 17 types of cancer in 38 countries, controlling for all determinants of cancer survival that are invariant across cancer types within a given country, and that are invariant across countries for a given cancer type. We find that an increase in the number of available drugs is associated with an increase in both the one-year and the five-year survival rate. Also, the probability that a cancer drug has been launched in a country depends on the incidence of cancer cases eligible for treatment by that drug in that country.

Keywords: cancer survival rates; longevity; pharmaceuticals; innovation; drug launches; new drugs; neoplasm; international differences; cancer drugs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2009.025818

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2009 Vol.10 No.3, pp.138 - 155

Published online: 24 May 2009 *

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