Shyam,
Thanks.
Note this recent update wrt Natco lenalidomide, at least in the USA market:
http://www.theflyonthewall.com/permalinks/entry.php/CELGid1991296/CELG-Celgene-likely-to-prevail-in-patent-case--says-Stifel
"Celgene likely to prevail in patent case, says Stifel. After examining the track record of the judge presiding over the Natco Revlimid patent case, Stifel sees a 75% probability that the case will be settled by the end of this year. The firm sees a 70% chance that Celgene will retain exclusive U.S. rights to Revlimid through April 2027. Stifel keeps a $185 price target and Buy rating on Celgene."
And earlier commentary from April:
http://www.thestreet.com/story/12641152/1/celgene-higher-on-revlimid-patent-case-document-release.html
"Documents....were made public which appear to favor Celgene over Natco, the generic drugmaker challenging certain Revlimid patents...."
And the price of Natco lenalidomide in India (6,000 RS = ~$100 USD for 5mg; 22,000 RS = ~$360 USD for 25mg)
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-09-11/news/28413703_1_natco-pharma-generic-version-blood-cells
Forums
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I have taken Revlimid since 2007, about 6 months after it was approved by the FDA. The invoice is presently about $9600 for a 21 day supply. My prescription plan under my retirement provides that I pay $100. The rest is picked up by the drug plan/Medicare.
If you are interested in the development of thalidomide, and subsequently, the development of the analog derivative, Revlimid, find a book entitled "Dark Remedy", by Rock Brynner. Yes, it is Yul's son, but he is a lecturer in the history department at Columbia (if I remember correctly)
There are a dozen reasons that it is so expensive, and there are a dozen reasons why it should not be so expensive. If you want to discuss this some more, please indicate.
If you are interested in the development of thalidomide, and subsequently, the development of the analog derivative, Revlimid, find a book entitled "Dark Remedy", by Rock Brynner. Yes, it is Yul's son, but he is a lecturer in the history department at Columbia (if I remember correctly)
There are a dozen reasons that it is so expensive, and there are a dozen reasons why it should not be so expensive. If you want to discuss this some more, please indicate.
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
I have been taking Revlimid for maintenance since about February, 2014. I currently take a 5 mg pill every day. The cost for these 28 pills is unbelievable. I am on Medicare with a prescription drug supplement. They just raised the price on it about a month ago. I pay out of pocket 5% of the cost and the insurance company pays 95%. This month I will pay $653 and the insurance company will pay approximately $12,407 for a total cost for 28 - 5 mg capsules of $13,060, or $466.42 per pill. In a year's time I will pay about $11,000 out of pocket for just this one drug. I cannot for the life of me understand how any drug can cost that much and how frankly they get away with it.
-
Lewis Douglas
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Having met my deductible early in the year and changing to Revlimid after this, I had no idea how much I would pay and no one could tell me until yesterday.
As of January 1st, I will pay $4,351.83 for 21 days. Of this, only $3,000 goes towards my deductible ($9,000) and I pay $1,351.83 co-pay. I am with Anthem Blue Cross in California on my husband's insurance through his work.
I can't understand the co-pay bit as I pay zero co-pay at present. So once I met my deductible, should the co-pay go back to zero again?
As of January 1st, I will pay $4,351.83 for 21 days. Of this, only $3,000 goes towards my deductible ($9,000) and I pay $1,351.83 co-pay. I am with Anthem Blue Cross in California on my husband's insurance through his work.
I can't understand the co-pay bit as I pay zero co-pay at present. So once I met my deductible, should the co-pay go back to zero again?
-
aussiegirl
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Hasn't anybody here asked Celgene about their Assistance program? I pay $25 for my monthly prescription of Revlimid.
-
Stan W. - Name: Stan
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: SMM-April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Robert, Good for you on the zero M-Spike. Question: What's your FLC ratio? What type of multiple myeloma do you have (IgG,IgA, IgM, kappa, lambda)?
RobertCagle wrote:
RobertCagle wrote:
I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in March 2012. I had a stem cell transplant [SCT] in June 2013 and just celebrated one year cancer free. Yes, I said cancer FREE!
My M protein level dropped to 0 by October after the stem cell transplant and has remained there. I was on Revlimid for six month before SCT and have been on it since then. Just saw my oncologist Tuesday and he said I will stay on it at least another year. My GP has told me to NEVER let them stop the Revlimid ..."
-
Stan W. - Name: Stan
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: SMM-April 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Please remember with all the co-pays, out of pockets, deductibles met, someone else is flipping the bill, not the insurance companies. Paid for by a multitude of others (insurance companies call them customers, government calls them tax-payers) some more and some less fortunate that you. This is a basic supply and demand problem with the medical industry and their legal partners (liabilities) holding this country hostage, and threatening our lives or our neighbors lives with huge ransom notes. Shame on them, they are criminals!!
-
Mcguilicuty
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
Some of us don't qualify for the assistance. Two kids about to enter college and now this expense too. It gets difficult.
-
aussiegirl
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
What I find interesting is that it appears the cost is not for the drug itself, but to recoup the cost of development.
I went on 10 mg Revlimid maintenance at the beginning of 2014. The cost was ~$8000. Once I met my initial delectable, my co-pay is $30. About mid year, my M-protein started to rise, and I was bumped to 25 mg Revlimid. The cost went up to ~$8600. Appears Celgene has set the price around ~$8000 - $9000 regardless of the dose, probably based on cost to develop the drug divided by the anticipated production/sale before the patent expires or the next best drug comes along and they have to drop the price.
I went on 10 mg Revlimid maintenance at the beginning of 2014. The cost was ~$8000. Once I met my initial delectable, my co-pay is $30. About mid year, my M-protein started to rise, and I was bumped to 25 mg Revlimid. The cost went up to ~$8600. Appears Celgene has set the price around ~$8000 - $9000 regardless of the dose, probably based on cost to develop the drug divided by the anticipated production/sale before the patent expires or the next best drug comes along and they have to drop the price.
-
Kevin J - Name: Kevin J
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: The cost of Revlimid - what do you pay?
You may have a point with recouping the cost of development.
Perhaps I am naive, but there is a truth about 'orphan diseases' that, whether we like it or not, remains true.
It costs as much to develop a drug to treat multiple myeloma as it does to treat, say, prostate cancer or some other more common thing. However, the cost of the development of the drug to treat prostate cancer (as well as the actual production costs) can be spread out a lot more; that lowers the cost of the individual dose a lot.
As well, it's also true, most of the time, that the cost per unit goes DOWN when larger quantities are made. You are going to have to pay a great deal more for a book that was printed by a specialty publishing house in that lot of a 1,000. You can end up paying hundreds of dollars for one of those, whereas, if you go to the local Barnes and Noble, you can get a paperback for $6. Nothing wrong with that paper back; it just cost a lot less to make.
It's supply and demand; The supply is limited, the cost to create it (a product that, just perhaps, 20,000 people MIGHT use) is the same as it is to create a product that literally hundreds of thousands of people can use.
So, as difficult as it is for some of us (all of us) to deal with the cost, I figure that it just comes with the territory we are walking through. WE are the folks who ended up with a zebra to ride, after all. It's not our fault, but we can't blame the saddle manufacturers because it costs more to make a saddle for a zebra than it does to make one for a horse.
Perhaps I am naive, but there is a truth about 'orphan diseases' that, whether we like it or not, remains true.
It costs as much to develop a drug to treat multiple myeloma as it does to treat, say, prostate cancer or some other more common thing. However, the cost of the development of the drug to treat prostate cancer (as well as the actual production costs) can be spread out a lot more; that lowers the cost of the individual dose a lot.
As well, it's also true, most of the time, that the cost per unit goes DOWN when larger quantities are made. You are going to have to pay a great deal more for a book that was printed by a specialty publishing house in that lot of a 1,000. You can end up paying hundreds of dollars for one of those, whereas, if you go to the local Barnes and Noble, you can get a paperback for $6. Nothing wrong with that paper back; it just cost a lot less to make.
It's supply and demand; The supply is limited, the cost to create it (a product that, just perhaps, 20,000 people MIGHT use) is the same as it is to create a product that literally hundreds of thousands of people can use.
So, as difficult as it is for some of us (all of us) to deal with the cost, I figure that it just comes with the territory we are walking through. WE are the folks who ended up with a zebra to ride, after all. It's not our fault, but we can't blame the saddle manufacturers because it costs more to make a saddle for a zebra than it does to make one for a horse.
-
dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63