The University of Hong Kong is investigating the feasibility of making oral arsenic available on a compassionate basis to patients in developing countries, who face immense difficulties with drug costs, and the provision of in-patient hospital facilities and laboratory tests.


Arsenic trioxide is available as an intravenous drug in the US. The cost is about 50,000 US dollars (400,000 HK dollars) a month. The prohibitive cost makes this potentially life-saving medication out of reach of leukaemia patients in developing countries. Oral arsenic is set to replace intravenous arsenic trioxide as the standard formulation. Oral arsenic is very safe, and can be prescribed in the outpatient setting, obviating many of the medical problems in developing countries. A compassionate programme will save the lives of numerous underprivileged patients.