Xtandi, or Enzalutamide, is a publicly-funded drug, that was created in a UCLA lab in 2005 and approved by the FDA in 2012. It is a prostate cancer drug that has the potential to save thousands of patients suffering from late-stage prostate cancer.
The Issue
Prostate cancer is a leading cancer in India and incidence rates are expected to double by 2020. It would be expected from a moral and ethical standpoint that UCLA would make Xtandi accessible to the population that would benefit most from it. However, after scientists at UCLA discovered the drug, the university instead licensed it to Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant, and sold its share of royalty rights to Royalty Pharma for over $1.1 billion, actively going against licensing guidelines previously signed. UCLA has gone to court in India on behalf of Pfizer and its affiliates, seeking to patent Xtandi. Granting a patent for Xtandi would prohibit low-cost generic manufacturing, setting the price for a month’s treatment at approximately $4,700 USD. This price is more than three times the per capita income in India.
Our Plan
Let UCLA know that their actions have not gone unnoticed. As an institution that has publicly prided itself on advancing knowledge and addressing pressing societal needs, it is now our job to hold UCLA to that promise. Raising awareness to the issue by making it a public problem, through demonstrations, lobbying and publicity campaigns.
New Updates!
UAEM UCLA is currently in conversation with the UCLA Technology Transfer office to explore alternative licensing solutions.