The High Price of the New MS Pill

[Guest guest]

http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/trevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms/the-high-price-of-the-new-ms-pill/?xid=nl_EverydayHealthLivingWithMultipleSclerosis_20101005Multiple Sclerosis Blog

Trevis Gleason

Life with MS

October 1, 2010

The High Price of the New MS Pill

I’ve read and quoted figures for annual economic impact of multiple

sclerosis at around $50,000-$75,000 per patient.

Those numbers are HUGE, and some may not understand the term “economic impact.†It’s not necessarily out-of-pocket expenses each of of us has to pay. It refers, rather, to the cumulative cost of missed work time, insurance rate hikes, travel expenses to and from doctors’ appointments, lost pay raises and unoffered job advancements and the like – plus the out-of-pocket stuff.

That is why there is such a broad range in those figures – loads of variables.

One variable is obviously how much a drug costs us.

The price we each pay for our disease-modifying MS therapies is loaded with variables. Included in such variables would be the “qualityâ€

of insurance coverage, where the insurance company rates the drug in their tiering system, whether we qualify for drug company assistance (currently, drug manufacturers are not allowed to give anyone discounts or assistance to on Medicare Part D direct), and of course the actual wholesale price the pharmaceutical company sets for the drug.

Now, before we go bashing pharma for the prices we pay, we must remember that MS disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) are not the kind of drugs that cost $500 million for the first dose and 5 cents for every one after (based on the cost of development, testing, clinical trials, and marketing). MS DMDs are called “biologicâ€

drugs, and we’ve had discussions

of those costs here before.

MS drugs are very expensive to produce. We can agree on that. Shareholders in pharma companies who produce these drugs, however,

have reaped some pretty massive rewards over the years … and it doesn’t

look like shareholders of Novartis, the manufacturer of the new oral med, Gilenya, are going to miss the dividend boat.

An article posted yesterday by Bloomberg, the financial news service, tells us that the “economic impact†of MS just got dearer for those expecting to switch to the oral med:

A wholesale price of $48,000 annually.

Just for reference, our currently available first line drugs are wholesale priced between around $33,600-$38,400, according to sources quoted in the article.

A Novartis company spokesperson is quoted as saying, “Gilenya pricing

is based on the value it will deliver patients, the scientific innovation it represents and our investment in studies to support the product.â€

I’m noting that the term “convenience

factor†is no longer being bantered around; “value it will deliver patients†must have sounded less offensive to some focus group…

I was contacted by another writer for Bloomberg, one Fay Cortez (mcortez@...),

who is soliciting our opinions of this pricing structure. Cortez is writing about the impact Gilenya will have on our community as well as in the financial world.

I say drop her an e-mail and let her know what you think. I know I will!

If my insurance coverage co-pay was going to be over $900/month for Copaxone, can’t imagine what they’re going to want me to co-pay for the MS Pill.

Wishing you and your family the best of health.

Cheers

Trevis

[Guest guest]

You know, this is really getting out of hand.  The one hope I

had was  an oral medication being cost effective to people. Now, there is

little hope for that. I cannot afford the current MS meds and now it looks like

I am going to have to win a multi million dollar lottery to even think about an

MS oral medication.  I cannot live with MS and all the other life complications. 

It is all getting out of hand.  Not only with the side effects of current MS drugs

but trying every month to find the money to pay for it all. I tell everyone now

that I am a hooker for the drug companies.  I work for medications first and

after, if I have any money left, I pay my bills.  Canadian  and provincial

programs are a joke here.  I still cannot afford my medications with their co

pay system they have based on my income.  They fail to see any income coming in

is going straight back out for drugs.  It all sucks.  I have told my family

that if I get anymore bad news about my health that is chronic or life

altering, I am going to disappear and live my life off the grid until I die ...

I can’t it anymore. Between MS, diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis,

depression, anxiety, migraines, undiagnosed cause of daily dizzy spells, my ear

problems, my eye problems and pharmacies not being able to fill my

prescriptions because the drug companies cannot make them fast enough or,   I

have had enough. 

[Guest guest]

Oh I am so sorry to hear about the meds. I have heard the prices are out of control. I had chemo back in 1990 and I cannot understand how they can charge the outrageous prices they charge now. You are in my prayers. Please come here and talk to us. Don't do anything in desperation.

Hugs

nne

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world""May the Lord Bless you and keep you,May the Lord Make his face shine upon you, and give you Peace...Forever"Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Lifehttp://breastcancerpatientssoulmatesforlife.bravehost.com/ Anxiety Depression and Breast Cancerhttp://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AnxietyDepressionandBreastCancerAngel Feather Loomerwww.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.comThe Cancer Clubwww.cancerclub.com

-----Original Message-----From: koala5@...Sent: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 17:54:12 -0400To: mserslife Subject: RE: The High Price of the New MS Pill

You know, this is really getting out of hand. The one hope I had was an oral medication being cost effective to people. Now, there is little hope for that. I cannot afford the current MS meds and now it looks like I am going to have to win a multi million dollar lottery to even think about an MS oral medication. I cannot live with MS and all the other life complications. It is all getting out of hand. Not only with the side effects of current MS drugs but trying every month to find the money to pay for it all. I tell everyone now that I am a hooker for the drug companies. I work for medications first and after, if I have any money left, I pay my bills. Canadian and provincial programs are a joke here. I still cannot afford my medications with their co pay system they have based on my income. They fail to see any income coming in is going straight back out for drugs. It all sucks. I have told my family that if I get anymore bad news about my health that is chronic or life altering, I am going to disappear and live my life off the grid until I die ... I can’t it anymore. Between MS, diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis, depression, anxiety, migraines, undiagnosed cause of daily dizzy spells, my ear problems, my eye problems and pharmacies not being able to fill my prescriptions because the drug companies cannot make them fast enough or, I have had enough.

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[Guest guest]

Dear I hear you loud and clear. I am in the same boat as you are now. I used to have really good, affordable insurance but now the insurance is so expensive I can't afford it. I don't want to get all political here but the reason the cost of my insurance went up is because of the first of the new rules for our new universal insurance coverage. I think the main reason for the increased costs is that now every insurance has to cover adult children on their parents policy up to age 26. That has really raised the costs to the insurance company. My insurance cost doubled. I don't qualify for Medicaid (free) so I am out of luck.I also thought well when the oral med comes along maybe I'll be able to afford that. Ha! love to

you SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: MSersLife Sent: Mon, October 11, 2010 2:54:12 PMSubject: RE: The High Price of the New MS Pill

You know, this is really getting out of hand. The one hope I

had was an oral medication being cost effective to people. Now, there is

little hope for that. I cannot afford the current MS meds and now it looks like

I am going to have to win a multi million dollar lottery to even think about an

MS oral medication. I cannot live with MS and all the other life complications.

It is all getting out of hand. Not only with the side effects of current MS drugs

but trying every month to find the money to pay for it all. I tell everyone now

that I am a hooker for the drug companies. I work for medications first and

after, if I have any money left, I pay my bills. Canadian and provincial

programs are a joke here. I still cannot afford my medications with their co

pay system they have based on my income. They fail to see any income coming in

is going straight back out for drugs. It all sucks. I have told my family

that if I get anymore bad news about my health that is chronic or life

altering, I am going to disappear and live my life off the grid until I die ...

I can’t it anymore. Between MS, diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis,

depression, anxiety, migraines, undiagnosed cause of daily dizzy spells, my ear

problems, my eye problems and pharmacies not being able to fill my

prescriptions because the drug companies cannot make them fast enough or, I

have had enough.