5 ms·
This math rests on two constants being true: 1. The generic for Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) costing $9k 2. Gleevec costing $100k retail Neither of which have
by endothrowho333 7y ago
This math rests on two constants being true:
1. The generic for Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) costing $9k
2. Gleevec costing $100k retail
Neither of which have been true since Gleevec went generic (sensationalist reporting). Brandname imatinib mesylate costs $9-12k depending on insurance. You can get a rebate card that lowers that to around $200. Generic it's around $100-150 for a month's supply.
I really dislike pharmaceutical practices, but there are systems already in place that will allow actual "consumers" (patients, not hospitals and other orgs) to pay a reasonable price for the medication they need.
This really is no different than the Shkreli debacle.
- LatteLazy 7y agoReally, the maths only relies on the cost of new drug development and the number of (potential) users per year. Everything else is minor. For instance, if the cost of producing and supplying the drug were different, that would add only 10 percent to the final profit, that is easily offset by factoring in inflation. And that's the point here: developing drugs is expensive and risky. So you need a big potential profit to do it. That means big revenue. Big revenue and small numbers of users means high prices.