39 replies to this topic

[chriskuo]

Under the current system, most Americans are covered by employers and pay relatively little for health care. Medicare provides pretty good coverage for seniors. These 2 large groups of health care consumers are very resistant to change. Those taking specialty drugs are subject to higher copays and can hit their out-of-pocket maximum early in the year. At least there is a cap on the damage.

For those with poor or no insurance, specialty drugs can be a tremendous burden. The good news is that relatively few Americans are in this position. The bad news is that the small number affected limit the political will to push for change.

[jmoorhou]

There's no way the FDA is not going to approve more gleevec generics right....

[acl]

acl, your $7.36 Canadian/100mg in Canada for the Gleevec generic certainly beats the $100 U.S./100mg charged (when I last filled my Rx in late Dec.) here in America.

You have many choices of Gleevec generics in Canada, many costing even less: http://www.pharmacyc...matinib/100 mg/

I'm sure that some Gleevec generics are better than others.

Buzzm1, I'm sure that some Gleevec generics are better than others. I really would like to know which one is better? I probably will go back to Teva-Imatinib. Thanks.

[Buzzm1]

Buzzm1, I'm sure that some Gleevec generics are better than others. I really would like to know which one is better? I probably will go back to Teva-Imatinib. Thanks.

acl, it would be nice to know which Gleevec generics are considered better; it seems that most (if not all) Gleevec generics are produced in India, so if Canada hasn't done so, India may be the best source for Gleevec generic ratings, if Gleevec generic ratings do exist at all.  

 

FWIW, here is a 3-year old article from a highly biased source:

the evergreened Novartis Imatinib patent was in the process of being overturned in India at the time ... 

Cheap Indian generic drugs: Not such good value after all? https://www.aei.org/...alue-after-all/

[chriskuo]

Sun is an Indian company but the imatinib it is selling in the US is being produced in the US.

I know drug companies producing in India are having a hard time meeting Japan's standards.

It will be interesting to see where the second generic imatinib in the US comes from.

[Buzzm1]

Found this:

Drug "Generic Imatinib" Price list (manufactured in India): http://www.medindia....ce/imatinib.htm

 

Clinical efficacy of generic imatinib http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/24561549

There is no evidence that these generic imatinib products (by Teva and Apotex) are less effective than brand name imatinib

 

Generic Imatinib Canada http://cmlsociety.or...rive-in-canada/

 

Impact of Transition to Generic Imatinib in the Molecular Response Among Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia http://www.bloodjour...so-checked=true

Conclusion: The generic formulations of imatinib used in Canada do not seem to be associated with the same previously reported lack of clinical efficacy when compared to brand name Gleevec™ during a follow-up period of 12 months. Further, a loss of MMR and a loss of CHR were transient in the 2 of 30 patients identified. Despite these infrequent events, treating physicians should consider that a switch to a generic formulation may be a contributing factor for the patient's loss of MMR or CHR. However, given the wide confidence intervals, larger studies and longer follow up are needed to address this issue.

 

In Canada (per pill)

Teva-Imatinib Generic $17.74 U.S./400mg ... Brand name Imatinib $126.51 U.S./400mg  

Teva-Imatinib Generic $5.03 U.S./100mg ... Brand name Imatinib $36.50 U.S./100mg

https://www.canadadr...s/gleevec/100mg

 

In the U.S. (per pill)

Sun Pharma Generic $xxx.xx U.S./400mg ... Brand name Imatinib $361.16 U.S./400mg per Kaiser

Sun Pharma Generic $xxx.xx U.S./100mg ... Brand name Imatinib $100.27 U.S./100mg per Kaiser

[gerry]

http://www.reuters.c...s-idUSKCN0VA3M9

Sun Pharma (SUN.NS) launched a generic version of Novartis's (NOVN.VX) leukaemia drug Gleevec on Monday in the United States and hopes to poach a third of sales in six months by pricing the copycat some 30 percent cheaper, Sun's North American chief executive said.

Gleevec, or imatinib mesylate, costs up to about $90,000 annually in the United States, implying Sun's price could be roughly $60,000. Gleevec posted $4.7 billion in global revenue in 2015, and Swiss-based Novartis has said the U.S. patent expiry puts around $2.5 billion in annual sales at risk.

[Trey]

Sun Pharma has announced copay cards and other promotions to reduce the overall costs:

 

http://www.imatinibrx.com/

 

http://www.imatinibr...stance-program/

Edited by Trey, 15 February 2016 - 09:18 PM.

[Buzzm1]

The biggest joke to consumers yet:  

 

Gleevec

$12,146

 

Generic

$11,839

 

This is the wholesale costs my insurance has to pay Novartis, the retail is double that.  The generic also comes with a $10 co-pay but it only works for 6 months and expires permanently (the Gleevec one does not).  I told my pharmacist to keep me on the brand name since there really wasn't any price difference and the co-pay doesn't expire on it.  

 

Totally pathetic.

r06ue1, who is your pharmacy?  I called Kaiser, and although they weren't able to give me the price of the Sun Pharma generic imatinib mesylate, they did price brand name Gleevec at $10,834.90, the same price I was quoted in August, 2015.  http://www.goodrx.co...verride=Gleevec

 

I've called any number of pharmacies and have yet to find one that has the price for the generic.  

 

In Canada (per pill)

Teva Generic Imatinib $17.74 USD/400mg ... Gleevec Imatinib $126.51 USD/400mg  

Teva Generic Imatinib . $5.03 USD/100mg ... Gleevec Imatinib . $36.50 USD/100mg

https://www.canadadr...s/gleevec/100mg

 

In the U.S. (per pill)

Sun Generic Imatinib $xxx.xx USD/400mg ... Gleevec Imatinib $361.16 USD/400mg per Kaiser

Sun Generic Imatinib $xxx.xx USD/100mg ... Gleevec Imatinib $100.27 USD/100mg per Kaiser

[r06ue1]

CVS Specialty Pharmacy, they might be more expensive, just more convenient for me since my company insurance is also through them (CVS Caremark).  

 

That price you quoted sounds like the price I had last year.  When they told me it had increased (I wanted to know the price difference between the brand name and the generic) I was a little shocked.

[Buzzm1]

CVS Specialty Pharmacy, they might be more expensive, just more convenient for me since my company insurance is also through them (CVS Caremark).  

 

That price you quoted sounds like the price I had last year.  When they told me it had increased (I wanted to know the price difference between the brand name and the generic) I was a little shocked.

CVS is quoted at $10,333.20 for Gleevec 30 400mg (with free coupon) http://www.goodrx.co...verride=Gleevec

 

I'll call them when they open here.

 

Update: Just called CVS and they said they couldn't give me a price; their system won't allow them to access a quote on specialty drugs ... the pharmacist said I could contact my insurance carrier for a quote ... 

 

KARE 11 Investigates: Prescription price shell game | KARE11.com http://www.kare11.co...l-game/44234964

 

I checked the Gleevec price in my zip using https://www.rxpricequotes.com

the prices quoted were all inline with what Kaiser quoted $10,834.90 with CVS at $11,013.89

[Buzzm1]

Sun Pharma has launched generic Gleevec in US under exclusivity. The launch is at only 10 per cent discount to branded products as against Street expectation of 30 per cent discount to innovator. http://profit.ndtv.c...al-cues-1278618

 

Imatinib Cost/yr. USD

U.S. Gleevec $132K

U.S. Generic $119K

Canada Gleevec $46K

Canada Generic $6.5K

 

Senate Health Committee - House Oversight Committee

 

02-08-2016 Experts reveal 'troubling' industry-employed strategies to delay availability of generic cancer drugs http://bit.ly/20KUwpf

 

The delay of a generic form of the leukemia drug imatinib (Gleevec, Novartis) provides an example of pay-for-delay, Kantarjian told HemOnc Today in an interview. 

"The patent for imatinib was supposed to expire in July of 2015," Kantarjian said. "Novartis made a deal with Sun Pharmaceuticals — which was the first company that would introduce the generic to the U.S. market — thereby delaying the introduction of generic imatinib by another 6 months, until February 2016."

A generic version of imatinib was introduced on Feb. 1, 2016, according to Kantarjian; however, the generic version has 180-day exclusivity in the U.S. This, therefore, results in an additional 6-month period where only two companies — Novartis and Sun Pharmaceuticals — decide on the prices of these drugs. 

"Because of these arrangements and perceived 'oligopolies' that persist for another 6 months, the generic company was able to set the price of the generic at 70% of the patented price for an additional 6 months," Kantarjian said. "The yearly cost of imatinib is around $130,000, so the generic cost will be about $90,000, which is what the patented drug cost us just 2 years ago. Moreover, the effective additional 1 year of high drug price extension will cost the U.S. health care system up to $3 billion for this one drug, and prevent thousands of patients from having access to an affordable drug."

 

NOTE: Generic Gleevec, expected to be priced at a 30% discount to the brand name, was instead priced at only a 10% discount to the brand name price.

[chriskuo]

These list prices are like sticker prices on cars and college tuition. Large insurers and pharmacy benefit managers negotiate significant undisclosed discounts on specialty drugs. The prices that insurers pay are still extremely high but do not believe that these are the net prices that the pharma companies receive.

[edenation]

Hi all, I am from Singapore. I noticed that Gleevec and generics in Singapore are much cheaper than what you are experiencing. Been using generics for close to 6 years and experiencing no side effects

[r06ue1]

Just checked the price on my insurers website:  

 

Gleevec (Brand)

Tablet 400 Mg

Novartis

$10,326.32

 

Imatinib Mesylate (Generic)

Tablet 400Mg

Sun Pharma Glob

$9,497.38

 

90 day supply:  

$14,999.99

 

The generic does have a considerable savings when using the 90 day delivery.  

 

Still outrageously priced though.

[gerry]

Who is making the profit?

[chriskuo]

The PBMs and Pharma companies negotiate the net prices (discounts and rebates off the posted list price).

The profits go largely to the drug companies but the PBMs make a good margin and to the extent they negotiate good deals they can share some of the savings with the employers who are funding the insurance.

[gerry]

thanks Chriskuo - wasn't exactly sure how it operated in the States. I guess even with a generic it depends what the market is prepared to pay.

[AllTheseYears]

My Medicare co-pay for Gleevec currently is about $11,000 per year.  That's out of pocket cost!  So, what will that co-pay be next year:  $14,000? More?  Who can sustain that bill year after year in retirement?  It is outrageous that our Congress refuse to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.  Here is a real eye-opening article on what's going on between Big Pharma and our government.  I'm from N.C., where my re-elected Republican senator (narrowly) is leading the way to kill CML survivors.  

 

 

https://www.opensecr...cription-costs/

 

Upshot: The potential to reduce prices is underscored by a 2015 paper by Carleton University of Ottawa, Canada, and the U.S. advocacy group Public Citizen. It found that Medicare Part D on average pays 73 percent more than Medicaid, and 80 percent more than the VHA, for the same brand-name drugs.

Two studies by the inspector general of Health and Human Services that compared drug expenditures under the Part D and Medicaid programs also concluded that Part D pays far more for the same medicines. The more recent inspector general study, released in April 2015, examined spending and rebates on 200 brand-name drugs. It found that, after taking rebates into account, Medicaid, which provides health care for low-income families with children, paid less than half of what Part D did for 110 of the drugs. Part D, on the other hand, paid less than Medicaid for only five of 200 drugs.

[r06ue1]

Sad that the manufacturer does not offer the $10 copay card to Medicare patients but that is probably part of their plan to sabotage it.