OBJECTIVES: There are numerous types of cancer, each affecting different tissues and requiring unique treatment strategies.Various drugs are developed to target these specific types of cancer, ranging from chemotherapy and immunotherapy to targeted therapy and hormone therapy, each designed to combat the disease in different ways. The aim of this study is to evaluate the oncology medicines market in Türkiye in terms of distribution of indication.

METHODS: In the study, the distribution of oncology drugs in the Turkish market based on indication, molecule and original/generic was examined. Essential data for the study were sourced from lists published by the Social Security Institution and the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency. The data were transferred to Windows Office Excel for descriptive analysis.

RESULTS: According to the analysis results, out of the 338 drugs in the Turkish oncology market, 94 are for hematologic malignancies, 209 are for solid tumors, and 35 cover both. Among the drugs specific to hematologic malignancies, 48 are classified as generic, among those for solid tumors, 106 are generic, and among those covering both, 26 are generic. The total number of original products in the market is lower compared to the number of generic products(180vs.158). When examined on a molecule basis, the highest number of products in the solid tumor group are oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, abiraterone, and docetaxel (8 brands); in the hematologic malignancies group, they are cytarabine, lenalidomide, and bortezomib (5 brands); and in the group covering both, imatinib (7 brands).

CONCLUSIONS: The higher number of treatments available for solid tumors suggests a focused effort in the Turkish oncology market to address the diverse and prevalent nature of these cancers. According the this results; the dominance of generic drugs in both hematologic and solid tumor categories indicates a competitive market landscape, with a notable presence of multiple brands for key oncology treatments.