DRUGS

Rockville, Maryland - February 26, 2016: The vial of Velcade discarded in the Maryland Oncology Hematology medical waste container still has 2.2 mg of the massively expensive drug's original dose of 3.5 mg. The patient's dose called for 1.3 mg.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals only sells Velcade, a drug to treat multiple myeloma and lymphoma, in the United States in 3.5 mg vials, which has enough medicine for one day’s treatment for a 6-foot, 6-inch person weighing 290 pounds. If a patient is smaller, much of the powder is put in the trash.

Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. sell extra large doses and make big profits on the medical waste.

CREDIT: Matt Roth for The New York Times
Assignment ID: 30186899A

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Filename: 160226_Drug_Waste_166.jpg
Copyright: 2016, Matt Roth
Image Size: 7360x4912 / 17.9MB; mattrothphoto.com; Drug prices Maryland Rockville VELCADE cancer drugs cancer medicines chemotherapy disposed drug makers drug waste federal Medicare program pharmaceutical Maryland Oncology Hematology profit thrown in the trash waste
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Rockville, Maryland - February 26, 2016: The vial of Velcade discarded in the Maryland Oncology Hematology medical waste container still has 2.2 mg of the massively expensive drug's original dose of 3.5 mg. The patient's dose called for 1.3 mg. <br />
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<br />
Takeda Pharmaceuticals only sells Velcade, a drug to treat multiple myeloma and lymphoma, in the United States in 3.5 mg vials, which has enough medicine for one day’s treatment for a 6-foot, 6-inch person weighing 290 pounds. If a patient is smaller, much of the powder is put in the trash. <br />
<br />
Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. sell extra large doses and make big profits on the medical waste.<br />
<br />
CREDIT: Matt Roth for The New York Times<br />
Assignment ID: 30186899A