51 replies to this topic

[Buzzm1]

Finally, an advertised U.S. generic Gleevec price:

 

$10197.59 Generic Gleevec‎ http://bit.ly/1TP9kDc

 

a 6% discount to the brand name

 

Imatinib (Gleevec) Cost/yr. USD

U.S. Gleevec $132K
U.S. Generic Gleevec $124K
Canada Gleevec $46K
Canada Generic Gleevec $6.5K
http://bit.ly/1mTVH8x

[Anti-Matters]

But look! You can take $5 off your first purchase! That'll make all the difference.

[Buzzm1]

This drug is defying a rare form of leukemia — and it keeps getting pricier http://wpo.st/TKWK1

 

When the drug company Novartis launched its breakthrough cancer medicine, Gleevec, in 2001, the list price was $26,400 a year. The company's chief executive acknowledged it was expensive, calling it an "uphill battle to win understanding for our decision."

 

Today, that hill is a mountain. Since Gleevec was approved to treat a rare form of leukemia, similar drugs have come on the market — and the U.S. wholesale list price for a year's supply of that little orange pill has soared to more than $120,000.

 

Imatinib (Gleevec) Cost/yr. USD

U.S. Gleevec $132K
U.S. Generic Gleevec $124K
Canada Gleevec $46K
Canada Generic Gleevec $6.5K
http://bit.ly/1mTVH8x

[chriskuo]

I don't think anybody in the US buys their Gleevec through Blink.

Most people get it through a pharmacy benefits manager attached to an insurance plan.

The insurance companies negotiate a discount with the manufacturer, which is much more than 6%, but is opaque to outsiders.

We don't really know how much the insurance company/sponsor is paying.   For people under 65, the drug companies are happy to reduce or eliminate the copays so that they can get the big money from the insurer.  For people on Medicare, starting with a high list price leaves more money for the drug company after the cost sharing in the catastrophic phase of Medicare Part D takes effect.

 

Yet, Americans re-elect their congressman who sanction this system term after term.  There are signs this year that presidential candidates outside the mainstream are having an impact, but the rage of angry white men does not guarantee that we will get a better system.

[r06ue1]

My company uses CVS Caremark, here are the costs I pay (only $10 a month now with the Gleevec card) and what CVS pays according to the Caremark website:  

 

Gleevec 400mg Tablet

Brand    Covered by Your Plan

You pay $140.00 or 1% of the cost. 

Your Plan pays $9,821.24 / 30 days

 

 

Imatinib Mesylate 400mg Tablet

Generic    Covered by Your Plan

You pay $140.00 or 1% of the cost. 

Your Plan pays $9,569.38 / 30 days

 

Last year when I checked this information, I believe it was about the same (minus the generic of course which was not available) but one thing they did list was the price without any insurance at all which was over $20,000 a month, absolutely insane.  Note that my insurer pays nearly as much for the "generic" as the brand which is probably why they are allowing me to stay on the brand name.  Everyone in America is paying for our insane drug prices, they just don't realize it.  The only difference between America's system and the Canadian system is that in Canada, everyone is covered and at much lower cost while we in America pay out the ass so that the top 1% can make out like bandits (which they are).

[scuba]

Here is an excellent summary on the generic vs. branded TKI landscape: generic gleevec.

 

http://www.healio.co...ancer-look-like

 

I was particularly struck by this apparent fact in the law:

 

"Sun Pharmaceutical received final FDA approval to produce generic imatinib for the U.S. market in December 2015. Being a first-to-file product, Sun received 180 days of marketing exclusivity, or protection against competition from other generic manufacturers."

 

My opinion is what the heck is the purpose of patent expiration if a company is granted continued exclusivity? This is what has to be changed in the law. When a patent expires - it expires. Open competition should reign after that. AND ... the patent period should be shortened anyway. That is the best way to reign in the out of sight prices without affecting R&D investment into new drugs. We know the profits are insane - so cut back the patent period. 

[crob20]

I believe the 6 month exclusivity is common...not just between Novartis and Sun. When something goes generic it's usually 6 months to appreciate the lower price.
Carol

[kat73]

I don't know how to stick a link from somewhere and put it here, so y'all will have to find this on your own - awful sorry!  But there was a very interesting article about Gleevec pricing and the whole generic/patent/Sun Pharma thing in this morning's Washington Post on the front page.  A couple of things from it:  when Sun Pharma's exclusive time is up, the price is expected to fall a LOT.  Another thing I thought was interesting:  the actual cost of making the pills is $216.  For a year's worth.  Amazing.  It's a great read, although be warned, it's pretty long.  (I hope they don't abridge articles when they put them online - don't know.)

[scuba]

Here's the link:

 

https://www.washingt...:homepage/story

[Buzzm1]

I don't know how to stick a link from somewhere and put it here, so y'all will have to find this on your own - awful sorry!  But there was a very interesting article about Gleevec pricing and the whole generic/patent/Sun Pharma thing in this morning's Washington Post on the front page.  A couple of things from it:  when Sun Pharma's exclusive time is up, the price is expected to fall a LOT.  Another thing I thought was interesting:  the actual cost of making the pills is $216.  For a year's worth.  Amazing.  It's a great read, although be warned, it's pretty long.  (I hope they don't abridge articles when they put them online - don't know.)

kat, are you referring to this article http://bit.ly/1p9yK2D

[MACELPatient]

My insurance provider NHP will no longer cover Gleevec now that it has a Generic available thru Sun Parma.  I received my 1st months supply last week.  It's also now being delivered thru CVS's Specialty Pharmacy.

 

It's 100% covered due to Massachusetts law.  Perhaps people can/should start lobbying their State reps to pass similar legislation in their States to get these drugs better covered by insurance providers.

[Gail's]

Oregon is also a state that requires your insurance to pay for oral cancer treatment at the same rate as IV cancer treatment. Thank goodness for that! It's actually going to be way more expensive for me when I'm on Medicare since they aren't bound by Oregons law.

[chriskuo]

Drug pricing is a political issue. The same drug companies that charge sky-high prices are the same ones that are selling it for a 1/3 or 1/2 in other countries. That is because the voters in those countries elected representatives who put controls on drug prices.

State laws are fine but as pointed out they don't help those on Medicare and they still cost the taxpayers and people paying insurance premiums a lot.

CML survivors need to band together with other cancer survivors to turn out the current House and Senate members who are supporting the current system.

Note what a group of angry white men have accomplished with Trump so far this year. Cancer survivors can be just as successful or more if they put their minds to it.

[chriskuo]

Be skeptical of what Caremark says they pay for Gleevec. The drug distribution channel is opaque.

Similar to dealer invoice price on new cars, there are discounts and rebates that may not necessarily show up in what is reported on their website.

[kat73]

Thanks Scuba and Buzz - yes, that was the correct article from The Washington Post 3-9-16.

[SUE]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I emailed Senator Mark Kirk urging him to do everything in his power to enable Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies.  I never heard back from him.  Apparently drug companies are more important than constituents to  Mark Kirk, Republican senator from Illinois.

 

Sue

[Buzzm1]

The pharmaceutical industry spent nearly $230 million on lobbying last year, some $65 million more than any other industry.  Members of Congress are recipients of much of this money.  

 

Replies from members of Congress aren't necessarily timely; I've received replies up to two months later, but they don't always reply.

[chriskuo]

It is a waste of time to try to change Kirk's mind.  He needs to be defeated in November.  You and people who agree with you know how to vote.  Kirk is one of 5 key senators key to the control of the US Senate this year.  Turning out these 5 senators are critical to reform.

 

Drug prices are a political issue; they are not a constituent service issue.

[rcase13]

I think part of the problem is a lot of people are like me and not very political. I don't know who to vote for to change things. We need our own lobbying group. The drug companies have theirs we need ours.

[roamingdoc83]

Contracted in 2009 while on Cobra... basically from that point on unable to obtain insurance (Cobra was not 'real' insurance). Cost me my 401 and other retirement savings. Will work until I die now. Was forced off for 19 months, ran out of dough, got real sick. Now on an assist program so the company is helping. America has a history of 'barons' (steel, railroad, cattle, etc) and they were not particularly amenable to oversight or direction. Ma Bell and other 'industrial giants' were (not really) trust busted and don't forget that "union" dock hands refused to load west coast ships heading to our Pacific Marines with food and ammo in WWII. Corruption, indifference and gouging are "part of man's baser nature" and historically only one thing really countered that trait. Dare I suggest Judeo-Christian morality (and of course someone will bring up the old Testament and speak of God ordered death, jeez). Well, it is ONLY going to get worse even as, perhaps the price of Gleevec drops a bit. As long as humans take advantage of other human's adverse conditions (and recall during the Northridge earthquake in CA vendors were selling small water bottles for $20 each!) we will have these issues. No moral guidance, man's shifting laws combined with greed and lobbying? What do you expect?