102 replies to this topic

[Buzzm1]

Thanks for the update shweflen.  Glad to see the Humana Walmart quoted price on generic imatinib mesylate is somewhat lower than expected, although, as you said, there is no guarantee.  Wanted to mention that it is not unusual to see a bounce in a PCR value after initially reaching undetected; looking forward to seeing you at undetected again with your next test.

[shweflen]

Thanks for the update shweflen.  Glad to see the Humana Walmart quoted price on generic imatinib mesylate is somewhat lower than expected, although, as you said, there is no guarantee.  Wanted to mention that it is not unusual to see a bounce in a PCR value after initially reaching undetected; looking forward to seeing you at undetected again with your next test.

Thanks for the encouragement.  I know that I shouldn't worry too soon but I am a bit anxious to see the next test results.  I had a sample taken yesterday and will see the hematologist on Tuesday so I don't have to wait much longer.

[ROMO]

thatguy,

 

I did go through some of the offerings and noticed words like, Laboratory

use only, and Veterinary Antiseptic, and 97% pure, and Hot Seller, and

Top Quality Food Grade, and even,  Adults and Children.

They could have ment Adult and Children Gerbils.

Some of them did say for CML treatment.

 

They also sold quantities like 25 kilograms a month. And payment plans

like Pay Pal and Western Union. Just call them and they will work it out.

They will even UPS it.

Imagine having 50 pounds of Gleevic in your garage.

 

Reminds me of a story some years ago when all these pet dogs started

dying in the US. The vets in their trade journals started talking and traced

it to a protein substance in pet treats. This was later traced to a mom and

pop lab in China. It made the national news here and the politicians got

involved and the Chinese government was shamed into punishing the

culprit. So they rounded up the owner of the Lab and shot him.

If you shame the Chinese government they shoot you.

In America they give you a talk show.

 

Maybe I could start up a Go-Fund-Me page and try some of this stuff.

A chance to die rich. I could put it on my headstone...

 

 "Here lies Romo, This years Darwin Award Winner!

Buried with his favorite book,  "The Book of Bad Ideas".

...Rest in Peace.

 

Happy Holidays

 

 

Romo 

[Buzzm1]

I had a sample taken yesterday and will see the hematologist on Tuesday so I don't have to wait much longer.

Hoping Tuesday brings you good news shweflen.

[thatguy]

thatguy,

I did go through some of the offerings and noticed words like, Laboratory
use only, and Veterinary Antiseptic, and 97% pure, and Hot Seller, and
Top Quality Food Grade, and even, Adults and Children.
They could have ment Adult and Children Gerbils.
Some of them did say for CML treatment.

They also sold quantities like 25 kilograms a month. And payment plans
like Pay Pal and Western Union. Just call them and they will work it out.
They will even UPS it.
Imagine having 50 pounds of Gleevic in your garage.

Reminds me of a story some years ago when all these pet dogs started
dying in the US. The vets in their trade journals started talking and traced
it to a protein substance in pet treats. This was later traced to a mom and
pop lab in China. It made the national news here and the politicians got
involved and the Chinese government was shamed into punishing the
culprit. So they rounded up the owner of the Lab and shot him.
If you shame the Chinese government they shoot you.
In America they give you a talk show.

Maybe I could start up a Go-Fund-Me page and try some of this stuff.
A chance to die rich. I could put it on my headstone...

"Here lies Romo, This years Darwin Award Winner!
Buried with his favorite book, "The Book of Bad Ideas".
...Rest in Peace.

Happy Holidays


Romo

Lol, I'd contribute! Just give us the raw-dog, honest truth!

I mean seriously lets just find an honest chemist and a test lab, and do some bartering...?

[Dom]

Buzz: "Hoping to hear from Dom too"

Hi buzz. Yes, I signed up with Cigna part D in 2018. Like sweflen, I'm concerned about the two star ratings, but since I'm not sure what that means, I'm not overly concerned.

According to the Medicare plan finder, my 2018 bill should total $8,500. But according to the Cigna site it should be $11,500. Anyone's guess. I didn't see any better plans. I'd like to move to an advantage plan but the prescription copays are much higher. If the true bill is $11,500 I may move to advantage in 2019.

[Buzzm1]

Thanks for the update Dom.  Good Luck on the 2018 generic imatinib mesylate pricing.

[SandyG353]

My daughter takes Gleevec and was offered the generic.    It is interesting because in her prescription plan, Novartis lowered the price of Gleevec to match the co-pay of the generic.  So, she only pays $10 for brand.

[Buzzm1]

Glad to see you are back on track shweflen.

[shweflen]

Glad to see you are back on track shweflen.

Thank you.  I know how lucky I am and appreciate all the information and support you and the others here provide.

[campanula]

Looks like Teva Pharmaceuticals is in trouble.  Strangely enough, I will take my first Teva tablet today (have been taking Sun with one month of Apotex.)  I don't know why I was shipped Teva this time.

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

"JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the world's largest generic drugmaker, on Thursday said it would lay off over a quarter of its workforce as part of a global restructuring meant to salvage its ailing business.

 

The company said 14,000 workers would be let go. The cuts will be scattered across Teva's global operations and will occur over the next two years, with most expected in 2018."

 

https://www.msn.com/...ID=ansmsnnews11

[campanula]

And yesterday, the founder of Apotex was found dead in his mansion in Toronto.

 

https://www.msn.com/...ID=ansmsnnews11

[r06ue1]

Yeah, that is a bit suspicious.  Also, Teva (another generic manufacturer) is restructuring and laid off 14,000 employees.  

 

https://www.fierceph...ment-of-justice

[snowboots]

Well, you were all correct in that the Novartis co-pay card will not work for the Medicare Part D programs. In previous posts I was mistaken about this - my bad. The "good" news is that I have found a prescription drug plan called EnvisionRxPlus. $12.60/mo. premium and a total cost of $7590 for generic imatinib mesylate. A total of $7741 for the year, which is much less than a lot of the plans I researched. Hopefully these prices will hold. Late in the game now for most of you for next year, but maybe worth keeping in mind. Still a mind-blower for me though. My previous insurance (ExpressScripts) had a $5 co-pay for a 90 day supply of brand name Gleevec. Turning 65 is disheartening.(was going to use the "B" word, but didn't know if I'd get canned).

[Buzzm1]

Well, you were all correct in that the Novartis co-pay card will not work for the Medicare Part D programs. In previous posts I was mistaken about this - my bad. The "good" news is that I have found a prescription drug plan called EnvisionRxPlus. $12.60/mo. premium and a total cost of $7590 for generic imatinib mesylate. A total of $7741 for the year, which is much less than a lot of the plans I researched. Hopefully these prices will hold. Late in the game now for most of you for next year, but maybe worth keeping in mind. Still a mind-blower for me though. My previous insurance (ExpressScripts) had a $5 co-pay for a 90 day supply of brand name Gleevec. Turning 65 is disheartening.(was going to use the "B" word, but didn't know if I'd get canned).

Thanks for the update snowboots.  

[hannibellemo]

@snowboots, I'm going to use the "f-word" abbreviation in this.

 

All the talk about "congress" not allowing Medicare to negotiate, yet we, who are on Medicare, are the fastest growing cohort and those f***ers keep getting re-elected! We have met the enemy, is it us?

 

I realize this is a simplification and I wouldn't wish CML on anyone (ok, maybe some members of congress and one or two others in the government) but the high cost of drugs has to be affecting more than just us with CML.

 

Heard on NPR yesterday that there is a treatment for a certain type of blindness, the treatment is expected to cost $1,000,000 dollars! Huh?

[Buzzm1]

I wholeheartedly agree with you Pat.  Congress is in the back pocket of Big PhRMA and is allowing Big PhRMA to run roughshod over the American people with the price of drugs .  There isn't any restriction as to how much Big PhRMA can charge for drugs; now, even generic drugs, as we have seen with generic Imatinib mesylate, are escalating in price.

 

Just a day, or two, ago, there was an article about a drug company that recently purchased another drug company which had been essentially giving away a drug that they held a patent on.  The purchasing company then increased the price of that "essentially free" drug to $15,000 per Rx.  Here's the article.

 

and other articles:
https://news.google....en&gl=US&ned=us

 

Insurance companies are effectively in collusion with Big PhRMA as the more Big PhRMA charges, the more insurance companies make.  Pharmacies and Pharmacists aren't complaining either.

 

Because medical insurance covers drugs, the public ire isn't being raised.  When you turn 65 and are on Medicare Part D you quickly become aware of high drug prices as you begin paying large amounts out-of-pocket.

 

There ought to be a law, or at least Congress should be fighting on our behalf rather that accepting money from Big PhRMA and turning their back on us.

[r06ue1]

The problem is the US is not a Democracy, never was, is supposedly a Republic, but since the 80's has looked more and more like an Oligarchy, Plutocracy, Aristocracy and Kleptocracy all rolled in to one.

[Buzzm1]

Going into 2018, based on information provided by Medicare Part D subscribers Shweflen, Snowboots, and Dom, it appears that U.S. generic Imatiinib Mesylate, as produced by Sun, Apotex, and Teva, is being priced at a little less than 50% of the cost of Novartis's Gleevec.

 

For the first seven months of 2017, Apotex had priced their generic imatinib mesylate, available through Express Scripts at Walmart, at about 20% of the brand name Gleevec price.  In August Apotex inexplicably more than tripled their price of generic mesylate., rivaling the prices being charged by Sun and Teva.

 

I'm not aware that any additionall generic Imatinib Mesylate manufacturers have entered the U.S. market for 2018.

[chriskuo]

Teva will need to make as much money as possible from imatinib until they get the mess of a company restructured. Hope they don't skimp on quality control.

The disheartening thing is that Americans support politicians who prevent Medicare from negotiating drug prices. And these are the politicians who shout America First.