Why Are Cancer Drugs So Expensive?
In this article
The cost map of modern oncology: a comprehensive look from global pricing policies to access problems in Türkiye.
While modern oncology changes the course of cancer through groundbreaking discoveries, it also brings a major economic picture that needs to be addressed. Advances in medicine are succeeding in transforming cancer from an "incurable disease" into a "manageable chronic process." However, the cost of this medical revolution has reached a scale that strains national healthcare systems and the financial resources of patients' families. Today, a patient's path to healing is a story not only of scientific victory but also of a vast financial obstacle that must be overcome.
The Reasons Behind the High Cost of Cancer Drugs
To understand why an oncology drug enters the market at a price of hundreds of thousands of dollars, we need to look at its journey from the laboratory to the patient. These high costs rest primarily on four main pillars:
1. Astronomical Research and Development (R&D) Expenses
Discovering a new molecule and obtaining FDA/EMA approval takes an average of 10 to 15 years, with thousands of unsuccessful attempts for every successful drug. The total development cost of a cancer drug, including unsuccessful attempts, can exceed 2.5 billion dollars. Pharmaceutical companies aim to recoup this enormous investment before the patent expires.
2. Biotechnological Manufacturing Challenges and Personalized Treatment
While older-generation chemotherapies can be mass-produced chemically, CAR-T cell therapies or antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are produced in living cells through highly complex biotechnological processes. CAR-T treatment in particular is "personalized": the patient's own blood is collected, genetically modified, and returned. This process is like opening a separate factory production line for each patient.
3. Value-Based Pricing Policy
When setting prices, modern pharmaceutical companies consider not just production costs but the drug's "created value." The question at the heart of pricing is: "If this drug saves a patient from hospitalization for life or extends their life by 5 years, what is the economic value of those 5 years?"
The Most Expensive Oncology Treatments Worldwide
Cellular therapies, although predominantly used in hematologic oncology, sit at the top of oncology economics. Here are examples of list prices worldwide:
| Drug | Treatment Type | Cancer Treated | List Price (Per Course) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kymriah | CAR-T Cell | Childhood Leukemias | ≈ $475000 |
| Carvykti | CAR-T Cell | Multiple Myeloma | ≈ $465000 |
| Abecma | CAR-T Cell | Multiple Myeloma | ≈ $419500 |
| Yescarta | CAR-T Cell | Aggressive Lymphomas | ≈ $373000 |
The Situation in Türkiye: The 10 Most Expensive Treatments
Because drug prices in Türkiye are linked to exchange rates, accessing agents not yet covered by SGK reimbursement imposes a serious financial burden. According to March 2026 data (1 USD = 44.05 TL), the highest-cost oncology drugs in Türkiye (solid tumors) are:
To access these medicines, many patients in Türkiye resort to "Drug Lawsuits" and obtain interim injunctions that secure SGK coverage for the medicine; nevertheless, this process drags a medical race against time into legal uncertainty.
Scientific Sources
- • IQVIA Global Oncology Trends 2025 Report.
- • JAMA Oncology. Financial Toxicity in Cancer Care: A Global Crisis, 2024.
- • TEB (Turkish Pharmacists’ Association) Overseas Drug Price List, March 2026.
- • Health Implementation Communiqué (SUT) and Current SGK Lists.
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DROZDOGAN Academy Commentary
Modern medicine offers hope and meaningful gains in life expectancy for more patients every day. Thanks to evolving technology and advances in molecular biology, cancer is increasingly becoming a disease that can often be controlled and managed for a long time. At the same time, the high costs accompanying these scientific advances are placing growing pressure on the sustainability of healthcare systems.
One of the most critical topics of discussion in oncology economics today is the concept of “financial toxicity”. The effects of cancer treatments are no longer limited to biological adverse effects; treatment costs can also place a serious burden on the financial balance of patients and their families. It is unacceptable for a course of treatment to place a family under severe financial pressure while trying to prolong the patient's life.
Although scientific developments have brought important advances in cancer treatment, it is essential that these advances be accessible to all sections of society. The fact that some treatments whose annual cost can reach 17 million TL are accessible to only a very limited group of patients also raises debates about equality and justice in healthcare.
For this reason, the paths toward solutions are becoming clearer. It is essential for Türkiye to increase its capacity to produce biotechnological medicines, support domestic production in biosimilar drug technologies, and conduct stronger and more transparent price negotiations with global pharmaceutical companies. In addition, developing innovative reimbursement models based on real-world data will both facilitate patients' access to treatment and strengthen the sustainability of the healthcare system.
The true success of scientific advances in cancer treatment will gain meaning only to the extent that these advances become accessible to all sections of society.