Future $$$ of Gleevec in the US

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

One thing that has me concerned lately is the price of Gleevec for

our future. For many of us who have been diagnosed at a

fairly " young " age, I worry about our lifetime payout coverages from

our private insurance companies.

Does anyone have any information or rumor about the price of Gleevec

going DOWN? Or, when does the drug patent run out and the generic

version come about?

I read somewhere that Novartis bought out the largest " generic "

company. Does that mean that they will now market and control the

monopoly and the price of Gleevec and it's future generic version?

I really feel that with the high price of this drug that saves our

lives, there must be some type of reduction in the future. Has

Novartis broke even with the cost of the initial studies, etc? Is it

now all pure profit for them? Will the new competition in CML drugs,

like BMS, eventually lower the price of Gleevec?

What is going to happen to all of us when our lifetime medical

coverages max out? I'm sure it will happen with frequent Dr. visits,

every 3 month PCR tests, cbc's, etc.. and biopsy's.. You all know the

drill.

It must be horrific for all those CML members who do not have any

insurance coverage and live in the US.

I am very grateful that we have Gleevec, but worry about the price of

this drug. The experts now say that CML will probably not be our

demise. So, with that being said, what is going to happen in our

future and our ability to pay for this lifesaving drug?

Sincerely,

Lynn (Snickersunny)

Dx-d 12/03

PCRU

400 mg