Doctors in the US are experimenting with using lower doses of blockbuster cancer medications, such as Opdivo and Keytruda, which could help hundreds of thousands of people worldwide access life-saving treatment at a fraction of the cost. However, pharmaceutical companies like Merck and Bristol have resisted this approach, citing concerns over efficacy and safety.
In India, where cancer patients often cannot afford the high-cost medications, hospitals have found that lower doses can be just as effective in treating advanced cancers. For example, at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, doctors have used 6% of the US dose of Opdivo to treat advanced head and neck cancer, resulting in higher survival rates.
Merck and Bristol have conducted studies on weight-based dosing for their drugs, but these results are often ignored by the companies when it comes to implementing lower doses in real-world settings. Meanwhile, researchers in other countries, including France, the UK, and the Netherlands, are also exploring the potential of ultra-low doses for cancer treatment.
The benefits of this approach could be significant: making smaller doses available more widely could save billions of dollars and benefit hundreds of thousands of people who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. The World Health Organization has already endorsed weight-based dosing as a viable strategy, pending further research.
Ultimately, the decision on how cancer medications are prescribed will be made by doctors and patients. However, with pharmaceutical companies increasingly prioritizing profits over patient well-being, it’s time for change – one dose at a time.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-experimental-cheaper-treatments-cancer-capitalism