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Manufacturing costs of the new hep-c drugs
I can't resist posting the following excerpt from HCV Advocate (http://hcvadvocate.org/news/newsLetter/2014/advocate0214.html)
on the manufacturing costs of the new hep-C drugs.
To my mind, the difference between what they will cost to make and what patients and their insurance companies will be charged in the U.S. is a scandal of huge proportions.
"Article: Minimum Costs for Producing Hepatitis C Direct Acting Antivirals, for Use in Large-Scale Treatment Access Programs in Developing Countries – Andrew Hill, et al.
Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Advance Access published January 6, 2014
In this study, Andrew Hill and colleagues predict manufacturing costs for 12-week courses of various hepatitis C drugs. Here are the findings in U.S. dollars:
$68 - $136 for sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)
$130 - $270 for simeprevir (Olysio)
$21- $63 for ribavirin
$10 - $30 for daclatasvir (not FDA-approved yet)
$100 - $210 for faldaprevir (not FDA-approved yet)
The Bottom Line: These numbers make it possible to treat hepatitis C globally in the next fifteen years.
Editorial Comment [from Alan Franciscus, HCV Advocate editor]: The cost of research and development drives up the cost of drugs, but so does profit. This analysis seems so optimistic when compared to the Wholesale Acquisition Costs of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) at $84,000 and simeprevir (Olysio) at $66,360. Although I hope that profit does not interfere with the very real chance that hepatitis C could be eradicated, I alternate between being skeptical and cautiously optimistic."
Mike
on the manufacturing costs of the new hep-C drugs.
To my mind, the difference between what they will cost to make and what patients and their insurance companies will be charged in the U.S. is a scandal of huge proportions.
"Article: Minimum Costs for Producing Hepatitis C Direct Acting Antivirals, for Use in Large-Scale Treatment Access Programs in Developing Countries – Andrew Hill, et al.
Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases Advance Access published January 6, 2014
In this study, Andrew Hill and colleagues predict manufacturing costs for 12-week courses of various hepatitis C drugs. Here are the findings in U.S. dollars:
$68 - $136 for sofosbuvir (Sovaldi)
$130 - $270 for simeprevir (Olysio)
$21- $63 for ribavirin
$10 - $30 for daclatasvir (not FDA-approved yet)
$100 - $210 for faldaprevir (not FDA-approved yet)
The Bottom Line: These numbers make it possible to treat hepatitis C globally in the next fifteen years.
Editorial Comment [from Alan Franciscus, HCV Advocate editor]: The cost of research and development drives up the cost of drugs, but so does profit. This analysis seems so optimistic when compared to the Wholesale Acquisition Costs of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) at $84,000 and simeprevir (Olysio) at $66,360. Although I hope that profit does not interfere with the very real chance that hepatitis C could be eradicated, I alternate between being skeptical and cautiously optimistic."
Mike
Thanks for the info, klonny.Ddespite the negative comments from other forum members, I still like the idea of moving to Vermont. I always liked it there, and I know some people who recently moved there. Plus the proposed new health system sounds like a winner (of course, the devil is in the details). And since health is priority #1 at my age (70), I prefer to pay high taxes but get good health care. New York, my home state, has high taxes but a bad healthcare system (really none at all). Vermont sounds a lot better.
Mike
Mike
I couldn't agree more on your feelings regarding Weinstein's comments, I as well was a bit shocked when I first read them regarding soc as still being an option.
Regarding VT, who knows, maybe the EB-5 program will save us all. Sure has worked in the NE Kingdom!
Regarding VT, who knows, maybe the EB-5 program will save us all. Sure has worked in the NE Kingdom!
Thank you I agree with you on that one, and it is expensive to live here, no argument there. But the real question is: Is it worth it? I think so. Taxes are high and the tax base is tiny. Jobs are hard to come by, but the quality of life is through the roof in my opinion. What I really was trying to say and my main concern is that based on Mr Weinsteins letter to Medicaid administrators that unsuspecting Medicaid recipients would be forced to undergo 24 to 48 weeks of Interferon when they do have other options through Gilead's assistance program.
Although, some would probably argue "my" civil ways!
Treated for 72 weeks up at Dartmouth..svr .
Wishing you the best of luck with your TX.
Pro
Treated for 72 weeks up at Dartmouth..svr .
Wishing you the best of luck with your TX.
Pro
No apology necessary klonny...and that is one of the best things about Vermont, we are all able to voice our opinions in a civil way.
(glad to see another from VT here, I only occasionally visit anymore)
(glad to see another from VT here, I only occasionally visit anymore)
That said, you are correct, "Vermont is a great place"..I'm just beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be better to visit than live in, when or if retirement ever comes..:*)
What you failed to mention about "our" little state is how the single payer system will be funded. Estimated costs of between $1.6-$2.2 billion on the backs of a population of about 600K (and declining). Higher taxes on business' which are already reluctant to move to our highly taxed state (#4 worse according to Kiplinger). 10% tax on dividends and capital gains, which our retirees depend on (I already see far less Floridians in the summertime).
An adjustment to the homestead property tax, ie, higher property taxes (again rate some of the highest in the country)
We can only tax the out of staters so much before the decide to purchase second/vacation properties elsewhere.
Personally, I'm not so gun ho when it comes to the Governors "legacy".
An adjustment to the homestead property tax, ie, higher property taxes (again rate some of the highest in the country)
We can only tax the out of staters so much before the decide to purchase second/vacation properties elsewhere.
Personally, I'm not so gun ho when it comes to the Governors "legacy".
I don't think there's any length of time required, just an intent to live here permanently. In other words you may have to show where your residence is by producing a utility bill and or/property tax bill or lease in your name. I found this:
http://humanservices.vermont.gov/on-line-rules/esd/medicaid-ssi-4200/view
take a look at section 4217.5 specifically.
Vermont is a great place.....
http://humanservices.vermont.gov/on-line-rules/esd/medicaid-ssi-4200/view
take a look at section 4217.5 specifically.
Vermont is a great place.....
I agree with you completely about Weinstein's statement. It made me angry. Anyone who could suggest that the old SOC is adequate has his head screwed on backwards. I rather think Weinstein simply doesn't know what he's talking about.
By the way, what are the requirements for becoming a resident of Vermont? I like the sound of what you say about the future of Vermont's medical insurance system. I'm an ex-pat, originally from New York (which I hate), now living in Argentina where the new drugs will not be available. I'm thinking seriously of moving back to the States, for HCV treatment and other reasons. Do you know how long I would have to live in Vermont before being a legal resident?
Cheers.
Mike
By the way, what are the requirements for becoming a resident of Vermont? I like the sound of what you say about the future of Vermont's medical insurance system. I'm an ex-pat, originally from New York (which I hate), now living in Argentina where the new drugs will not be available. I'm thinking seriously of moving back to the States, for HCV treatment and other reasons. Do you know how long I would have to live in Vermont before being a legal resident?
Cheers.
Mike
I don't disagree with any of the above. It is crazy for these drugs to be so expensive and something should be done about it. However I find this part of the statement by Mr Weinstein disturbing:
"Most critically, by taking action to ensure a better price your state will not be putting patient health at risk. There are alternative (and less expensive) treatments for Hepatitis C already available. In addition, Gilead’s patient assistance program provides the treatment for free to people making less than $100,000 a year who cannot access it elsewhere. These steps, while not ideal, will ensure patients continue to receive the care they need until newer medications are made affordable. "
To suggest that the old SOC is adequate is irresponsible. He either doesn't understand or doesn't care. He is specifically addressing state's Medicaid officials. Anyone who is eligible for Medicaid and is denied would be eligible for Gilead's free medication program. There is no need to talk about the old SOC.
FYI: I am currently on treatment with Sovaldi/Ribavirin, covered by my state's Medicaid program through the ACA Medicaid expansion. I was fully prepared to be denied. I would have gotten the drugs from Gilead for free as a result. Do I feel wonderful about it costing so much? No I don't. However I was a high wage earner for many years and paid big $$ into the insurance system and almost never made a claim. My business failed in 2008 in the crash. I have not been able to return to the past and at 59 years old I never will. My little state, Vermont, is going to a single payer system in 2017. That means the insurance companies are out! Everyone in the state will have the same coverage unless they get it through their employment from an out of state company like IBM. Maybe the state will have more leverage at that point in dealing with the high costs of drugs.
"Most critically, by taking action to ensure a better price your state will not be putting patient health at risk. There are alternative (and less expensive) treatments for Hepatitis C already available. In addition, Gilead’s patient assistance program provides the treatment for free to people making less than $100,000 a year who cannot access it elsewhere. These steps, while not ideal, will ensure patients continue to receive the care they need until newer medications are made affordable. "
To suggest that the old SOC is adequate is irresponsible. He either doesn't understand or doesn't care. He is specifically addressing state's Medicaid officials. Anyone who is eligible for Medicaid and is denied would be eligible for Gilead's free medication program. There is no need to talk about the old SOC.
FYI: I am currently on treatment with Sovaldi/Ribavirin, covered by my state's Medicaid program through the ACA Medicaid expansion. I was fully prepared to be denied. I would have gotten the drugs from Gilead for free as a result. Do I feel wonderful about it costing so much? No I don't. However I was a high wage earner for many years and paid big $$ into the insurance system and almost never made a claim. My business failed in 2008 in the crash. I have not been able to return to the past and at 59 years old I never will. My little state, Vermont, is going to a single payer system in 2017. That means the insurance companies are out! Everyone in the state will have the same coverage unless they get it through their employment from an out of state company like IBM. Maybe the state will have more leverage at that point in dealing with the high costs of drugs.
Yes, there is a large co-infected community. The fact remains that people with HIV have organized themselves and gotten results by taking action, whereas we HCV infectees haven't.
Patenting a disease is against natural law, the law of God. It's one of the ugliest things in present history.
Essential.org is a good organization. I used to work with those people on Internet politics as well as certain issues in international commercial law. I was a political economics journalist and writer for part of my life, believe it or not.
Cheers.
Mike
Patenting a disease is against natural law, the law of God. It's one of the ugliest things in present history.
Essential.org is a good organization. I used to work with those people on Internet politics as well as certain issues in international commercial law. I was a political economics journalist and writer for part of my life, believe it or not.
Cheers.
Mike
I believe that a lot of the interest from HIV activists comes from the fact that there is a large co-infected community.
And yes, there needs to be major changes in the way drugs are patented starting with international patent law. What I still feel is a crime against humanity is the fact that a disease can be patented and people prevented from even doing research on it without paying huge fees to the patent holder.
http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/pharm-policy/2000-October/000385.html
This link may no longer work but you can Google Dr. DW Bradley and his patent dispute with Chiron over the discovery of HCV.
And yes, there needs to be major changes in the way drugs are patented starting with international patent law. What I still feel is a crime against humanity is the fact that a disease can be patented and people prevented from even doing research on it without paying huge fees to the patent holder.
http://lists.essential.org/pipermail/pharm-policy/2000-October/000385.html
This link may no longer work but you can Google Dr. DW Bradley and his patent dispute with Chiron over the discovery of HCV.
I just saw desrt's news thread on the AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) asking Medicare to remove Gilead's Sovaldi from their list.
This brings up the question of why an AIDS lobby has to do this. Why isn't there an HCV lobby in the U.S.? With the number of hep-C infectees, such a lobby could be very effective in promoting patients' interests. It's about time one got organized.
Further re the cost of the new drugs, this whole issue really got started when the drug companies were allowed to get away with charging tens of thousands of dollars for IFN/RBV, two drugs that weren't even developed for hepatitis but were left lying around from HIV research. $38,000 for a course of SOC is itself an outrage, when these drugs cost only a few dollars to make.
Speculating on disease and gouging the ill are crimes against humanity, in my opinion.
Mike
This brings up the question of why an AIDS lobby has to do this. Why isn't there an HCV lobby in the U.S.? With the number of hep-C infectees, such a lobby could be very effective in promoting patients' interests. It's about time one got organized.
Further re the cost of the new drugs, this whole issue really got started when the drug companies were allowed to get away with charging tens of thousands of dollars for IFN/RBV, two drugs that weren't even developed for hepatitis but were left lying around from HIV research. $38,000 for a course of SOC is itself an outrage, when these drugs cost only a few dollars to make.
Speculating on disease and gouging the ill are crimes against humanity, in my opinion.
Mike
This is not about drug companies recouping research costs. It' s about making obscene profits, and their share price on the stock market.
Many, many people will have to suffer the sides of SOC rather than get the new meds because of their exhorbitant cost. And many will not get treated at all, because even the cost of SOC is outrageous.
I saw somewhere an economic analysis that said that these drug companies will, after paying back research costs in a short space of time, be making profits of 279,000%. This is so far beyond anything that could be considered reasonable that it's downright unthinkable. Ugly.
We are no longer human beings, just objects in the marketplace. And if we die a horrible though unnecessary death, it matters not a whit to society or the government or anyone else.
We pride ourselves on being the progressive forefront of civilization, but the truth is that we are sinking into barbarism.
I've postponed treating for six years, waiting for better drugs, while my liver worsens. Now it looks like I'll have to use the same drugs that were available six years ago.
I couldn't be more angry.
Mike
Many, many people will have to suffer the sides of SOC rather than get the new meds because of their exhorbitant cost. And many will not get treated at all, because even the cost of SOC is outrageous.
I saw somewhere an economic analysis that said that these drug companies will, after paying back research costs in a short space of time, be making profits of 279,000%. This is so far beyond anything that could be considered reasonable that it's downright unthinkable. Ugly.
We are no longer human beings, just objects in the marketplace. And if we die a horrible though unnecessary death, it matters not a whit to society or the government or anyone else.
We pride ourselves on being the progressive forefront of civilization, but the truth is that we are sinking into barbarism.
I've postponed treating for six years, waiting for better drugs, while my liver worsens. Now it looks like I'll have to use the same drugs that were available six years ago.
I couldn't be more angry.
Mike
Hey Mike, really happy to see you posting. I am shocked at the costs of the medications in relationship to what it costs to produce it.
I guess they have to get their money back from all the research they did to get this drug approved.
The good thing is that it is working and curing people without interferon.
The drug companies are also helping people with little income or insurance. I think it is GrammyA who is getting her medications from the drug companies at no cost.
My best to you, Dee
I guess they have to get their money back from all the research they did to get this drug approved.
The good thing is that it is working and curing people without interferon.
The drug companies are also helping people with little income or insurance. I think it is GrammyA who is getting her medications from the drug companies at no cost.
My best to you, Dee
Playing devils advocate here....this was a response to a similar article.
"In reading the article linked to in "pushing back", it seems to me the Hep C activists are protesting against the wrong villians. Gilead has risked much to bring this drug to market. Aren't they the heros here? The PBMs like Express Scripts are just trying to protect their lush profits at the expense of their patients. If I were a Hep C patient, I think I would take a look at suing them if they tried to force me through an interferon regime before agreeing to pay for the far superior treatment. (I own shares of Gilead, Express Scripts and Catamaran. Express Scripts is the PBM in my own health plan. As an Express Scripts shareholder, I would like to see them prosper. But as a member of their health plan I'm not very happy to think they might deny me access to the best treatment in order to protect their very nice profits)"
"In reading the article linked to in "pushing back", it seems to me the Hep C activists are protesting against the wrong villians. Gilead has risked much to bring this drug to market. Aren't they the heros here? The PBMs like Express Scripts are just trying to protect their lush profits at the expense of their patients. If I were a Hep C patient, I think I would take a look at suing them if they tried to force me through an interferon regime before agreeing to pay for the far superior treatment. (I own shares of Gilead, Express Scripts and Catamaran. Express Scripts is the PBM in my own health plan. As an Express Scripts shareholder, I would like to see them prosper. But as a member of their health plan I'm not very happy to think they might deny me access to the best treatment in order to protect their very nice profits)"
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Current-Events---/1-000-per-Pill/show/2088197
Nice to see you posting Mike.
d
Nice to see you posting Mike.
d
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