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# Hill Targets Company for 1,400% Price Increase on Cancer Drug
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/hill-targets-company-for-1-400-price-increase-on-cancer-drug/
- Published: 2018-04-02T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T23:56:49.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Drugs, #legacy-id-D5141121

U.S. Senators **Susan Collins** (R-ME), **Claire McCaskill** (D-MO), and **Catherine Cortez Masto** (D-NV) have [sent a letter](http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=oGJ1pkZyysOST8btnWeAdWfazdP60O3PLkuOZioW2RiI0IVhceklysOPMkw%2F40NJQKw5QntWmYa%2BncFAS8zgL9RDjov0Z7jinrc5uhVLcmS1khSlbGqYug%3D%3D&G=0&R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.collins.senate.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F3%5F22%2520Tri-Source%2520Letter%2520FINAL.pdf&I=20180402162441.0000002c43cc%40mail6-94-usnbn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhYzI1OTMxMGJiMDI4YTI4ODdmN2NiNzs%3D&S=8hPv8mEiDi1BDNyyjeXdL%5FReTyDkKqIPtSgBDePwjHM&ref=fdaweb.com) to Tri-Source Pharma CEO **Robert DiCrisci**, asking for an explanation on why a 40-year-old, off-patent cancer drug, lomustine, has experienced a recent price increase of 1,400%. NextSource Biopharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Tri-Source Pharma, acquired lomustine and increased the price over a four-year period. “In particular, we would like to better understand the factors contributing to the rising cost of lomustine,” Collins said in the letter.

Lomustine was first approved by FDA in 1976 for treating brain tumors and Hodgkin lymphoma. It is one of only four FDA-approved treatments for glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest form of malignant brain tumor in adults. It is also used off-label to treat other forms of cancer.

In 2015, the lawmakers [launched a bipartisan investigation](http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=WAA0HYy4enWklLGLVOCoftvRiKxkwcx7028A%2BNZlWSzSEaUD3cyAX3clamfw9A%2BdGjk%2BGz28MSK%2BmfVEA5CxVokLkd11ppdJuSTcW4M7QeU60lHLsfA5wl36W7HvH0Ncw1CFmzTP8RIAxmxHG%2BZjVQ%3D%3D&G=0&R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aging.senate.gov%2Fpress-releases%2Fcollins-mccaskill-open-senate-investigation-into-rx-drug-pricing-announce-intention-to-hold-hearings&I=20180315173954.000000f207c1%40mail6-33-usnbn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhYWFhOWMwOGI5YzJjNWM5Y2NhMWQwMDs%3D&S=0%5FJG8jg5nUQoFfPLP-dCisdPnL9wXcAjvjrFpcfO98Q&ref=fdaweb.com) into other egregious price spikes for certain generic, off-patent drugs. They [released a report](http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=WAA0HYy4enWklLGLVOCoftvRiKxkwcx7028A%2BNZlWSzSEaUD3cyAX3clamfw9A%2BdGjk%2BGz28MSK%2BmfVEA5CxVokLkd11ppdJuSTcW4M7QeU60lHLsfA5wl36W7HvH0Ncw1CFmzTP8RIAxmxHG%2BZjVQ%3D%3D&G=0&R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.collins.senate.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fcollins-mccaskill-release-committee-report-bipartisan-drug-pricing-investigation&I=20180315173954.000000f207c1%40mail6-33-usnbn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhYWFhOWMwOGI5YzJjNWM5Y2NhMWQwMDs%3D&S=mchUxAn7UvQdyfEyxxOFtkld9JonfItKlwyustuINhI&ref=fdaweb.com) on their investigation in 2016\. Collins and McCaskill introduced a bill to improve generic competition and increase the affordability and accessibility of prescription drugs [that was signed into law](http://link.email.dynect.net/link.php?DynEngagement=true&H=WAA0HYy4enWklLGLVOCoftvRiKxkwcx7028A%2BNZlWSzSEaUD3cyAX3clamfw9A%2BdGjk%2BGz28MSK%2BmfVEA5CxVokLkd11ppdJuSTcW4M7QeU60lHLsfA5wl36W7HvH0Ncw1CFmzTP8RIAxmxHG%2BZjVQ%3D%3D&G=0&R=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.collins.senate.gov%2Fnewsroom%2Fsenators-collins-mccaskill%25E2%2580%2599s-plan-improve-generic-drug-competition-ensure-patient-access&I=20180315173954.000000f207c1%40mail6-33-usnbn1&X=MHwxMDQ2NzU4OjVhYWFhOWMwOGI5YzJjNWM5Y2NhMWQwMDs%3D&S=DCs89baBq9o7FNqe8lQY79W773N2JsB1BEija8Nt1Aw&ref=fdaweb.com) as part of the FDA Reauthorization Act.