It has been popping up on my radar more and more about the pricing of Insulin which is now reaching a $1,000 a month.
To which I throw he bullshit flag.
Insulin was once made from the pancreas of butchered pigs. As you can imagine, that was messy, sloppy. and less than totally hygienic.
Fast forward to the mid 80's, and researchers develop Humulin, a biosynthetic, in fact a gene spliced bacteria which created an insulin equivalent as a byproduct.
As some one who has worked with bioreactors and has a spouse who did it for a living, the yield on these are phenomenal.
Oh and they have had 40 years to refine the processes, boosting yields and reducing costs.
At this point it is simply manufacturing. oh did I mention in Canada it's about $40-60 a month?
Personally, I don't have diabetes. my uncle does but he lives near Buffalo and he just makes a run over the border.

I am asking, please call your congressman and give them an earful. I don't care what party they are from.
This is not about politics. It is about folks who have to choose between food, rent or medicine.
If the insulin producers and distributers hear words like lifting the patent constraints or accelerated deprecation.
Patents are funny things but the manufacturers will create a minor tweak and extend the patent another 20 years.

A word about patents:https://www.researchgate.net/publica...Patent_Profile

Thanks

 

Greed is why America is great - right? j/k

I am sure you know it takes something out of the ordinary to start a movement. With your talent and background you need to come up with something special. IMHO it has to be a video. If it is not on video it seems it is not news in todays world. Just my 2 cents worth; food for thought and action.

 

Another medical rip off just like the Epie pens my wife has to carry with her all of the time for Angio Adela.

 

Chronic disease is a money-pit for pharmaceutical companies who could probably well afford the necessary research and medical intervention to effect cures for many of our illnesses. They do not care to create cures as that would eradicate the endless money stream. I have little regard for Big Pharma.

 

At least, I am guessing that she does not need to use the EpiPen every day. In a diabetic person, the body probably needs a constant supply of insulin.

What is Angio Adela? I am not familiar with it.

 

I think autocorrect did this -- he meant angioedema which is swelling under the skin similar to hives but worse.


.

 

Thanks! I was thinking it was probably due to autocorrect but I could not figure out what it was supposed to be.

(I am very fortunate in that I have very few medical problems. I do have lots of bad family history, though. Trying my best though.)

 

What is happening now, there is a shortage of MANY critical drugs. The hospitals are competing with each other for supplies. It's not a great time to be admitted to an ICU.

 

I have a family member with Type 2 diabetes. No insulin required, but a cocktail of meds, one of which would be rather expensive were it not for insurance. Insulin (as well as many other drugs) should not be something that breaks the bank. Nor should people have to chose between food and medication, or feel the need to ration insulin.

I used an asthma inhaler with good results. It had been around long enough that it should have been available as a generic, but they company made a change or two, and their patent continued.

I've been using a different one for several years, again with good results. However, it's not on the forumulary. Oh, I can get it approved, but instead of paying $42.00 for the one the insurance company does cover, I'd be paying close to $200.00 for the one I'm currently using.

 

I'll chime in. I think everyone knows I work in Big Pharma. I do IT work, been there 27 years.

Some thoughts - random order. My opinion and not necessarily the same as my employer:

1. I sympathize with people who need meds, long term for health reasons. I have less sympathy for people who take the same meds due to lifestyle choices.
2. I bet most people don't realize that big pharma investments for a new drug can reach $2B or more, and they assume that entire risk, regardless of going to market when the decide to push forward with clinical trials
   1. There's a chart that shows the cost per approved drugs ONLY ranges from $3 to $11B, probably proportionate to how well that company has selected it's candidates for success.
3. Big Pharma provides 100s of $M or even $Bs to those in need who can't afford meds.
4. The patent lifecycle is 20 years from discovery, which is often chewed up by 50% or more during research, trials, etc... before ever getting to market. Estimates IIRC are that the companies end up with about 8-10 years to recoup investments.
   1. I don't like the patent jumping game, but suspect it's become a legal cat and mouse game to recoup investments. It's also likely that as research continues, there are new advancements for existing meds. Should we look at our patent system here, not just those using it?
5. While there are meds that make in the 10s of $B, many others don't, and make 10s or 100s of $M. Big companies live on big drugs. Niche companies live on niche drugs.
6. I often wonder if in the research community (or decision makers in the community) choose to suppress cures for long term care. There's so many people involved, I can't imagine it could be hidden if it were really a cure.
7. Pharma pricing is not a Company to Consumer model. Unfortunately, government regulation requires a variety of tiers and middle men, each with their own contracts and profits to get a med from the plant to the user.
8. Pharma pricing is one page in a very large book that covers Healthcare in the US and elsewhere.
9. I believe that other countries are cheaper to buy meds in because their systems have pushed back, don't have the bureaucracy, regulations or other issues facing sellers in the US, including our US view of healthcare and health insurance.
10. I believe that prices are higher in the US because of #8 and the things put in place so that in our capitalistic society, driven by the creation of money on all fronts, succeeds.
    1. If you don't like them making money - move your 401K out of big cap stuff that has them in it. It's double-edged sword. We don't like what or how they do it, but sure like the rewards. (and that's not just big-pharma).

I do believe my employer and Big Pharma in general do more for the greater good than not. In the US, they are entitled and as public companies, encouraged to increase shareholder value. Is it any different than gas companies who can easily absorb 25% on the cost of fuel so people can get to work, doctors etc... They make massive profits, yet fuel goes up when the wind blows hard.

I get it. I've been hearing it for 27 years now, but Big Pharma isn't the only one to look at when it comes to the cost of meds. There's 100 if not 1000s of moving parts in this puzzle.