Attempts to reduce cost of Xtandi in the USA

[OTPrincess]

My husbands cost for Xtandi is $10,000 a year on Medicare!!! While no where near wealthy our retirement income exceeds that for help from Xtandi or any grants. While researching costs of this drug we found out it was developed by UCLA using government funds! I came across this article and you will learn about its costs and what is currently going on this month to hopefully reduce the cost. Please read. keionline.org/xtandi2021

[Grumpyswife]

My husband failed Xtandi quite awhile ago so I may not be accurate in my recall. It was easier getting help with the Xtandi copay since there was no generic.

When he switched to Zytiga he eventually got the generic abiraterone which was more difficult for us to get help with. That seems crazy and frustrating to me. To complicate it even more, some of the copay assistance plans wouldn't work if you were on Medicare.

Of course, everyone's situation is different.

There have been quite a few posts here about buying the drugs through India. I am not sure if that is available anymore with supply chain problems.

Thanks for the article even though reading it made me more frustrated.

[OTPrincess in reply to Grumpyswife]

I hope Biden will work on Medicare drug costs as he said during his speech today. And the article also made me angry and frustrated. Big pharma has no limits on Medicare!!!

[kikepana in reply to Grumpyswife]

I have two bottles of Xtandi available, plus 4 bottles of Zytiga (500 mg trademark) if anyone needs. I live in Puerto Rico (USA).

[Bossman071645 in reply to kikepana]

Could use the bottles, takes a long time for paper work. I am out of xtandi 40 mil.

[kikepana in reply to Bossman071645]

How do I send it?

[Bossman071645 in reply to kikepana]

2113 state st neCanton ohio 44722

Care of je puett. God blessed you.

[kikepana in reply to Bossman071645]

My email [e-mail]

[Bossman071645 in reply to kikepana]

2113 state st ne canton ohio 44721

[Bossman071645 in reply to kikepana]

Did you get my request for your xtandi.

[Bossman071645 in reply to kikepana]

Did you get my request for the xtandi

[kikepana in reply to Bossman071645]

Yes, but the post office near me said I can’t send prescription drug ( illegal ).

[Magnus1964]

Big Pharma has such a powerful grip over the FDA and the congress that it charges what ever it wants for it's drugs. The FDA exists to protect the profits of big pharma not to protect the public.

You are correct, many drugs have their beginning at Universities with tax payer money. Big Pharma takes that research and markets those drugs for outrageous prices. Yet they cry that they have to charge those prices for further research.

It is possible to order those same drugs from India for far less than you would pay here in the US. They are the same brands.

[ChicagoJ]

I have the AARP Medicare Part D prescription plan. I went on Xtandi on January 13th. That one prescription took me from initial coverage, through the “donut hole” and into the “catastrophic coverage “ level where I’ll stay for the rest of the year. The January charge was $3000+ and then $700+ a month for the rest of the year. Abiraterone was much more reasonable, but I couldn’t take it. Because of the way the Medicare law is written there are very few copay cards that work with it on Xtandi. I couldn’t in good conscience sign a form saying that I was unable to pay for my prescription so I didn’t apply for aid. The system is ridiculous though. John

[OTPrincess in reply to ChicagoJ]

Same with us. I hope they do start to reign in big pharma in Medicare.

[spencoid2]

It is more than fucking sick. We support universities to develop drugs and then give all the profits to big pharma. I hope that Biden gets something corrected but I doubt it. There is no difference in the republic pigs and the democratshits. They are all phianced by the people who have the most money.

My recent experience is paying many thousands of dollars for firm is gone and then paying for it (the real shit not generic) when i was in France and paid for it out of pocket, It was about $200 with two doctor visits. I bought it without insurance at the pharmacy. I paid less than $100 for a firmagon injection (I paid out of pocket no bullshit insurance) but here they charge medicare at least ten times as much.

Something is seriously wrong. Future development costs? Never heard of such total bullshit in my life. Good luck wimpy Joe. I voted you because the choice was you or a pure criminal, with a history of psychopathy. Nothing is going to change, at least we suffering with advanced PC will be gone to a better place soon.

I am old and supposed to become a conservative, no chance here, but in terms of politics I see little difference.

[cesces in reply to spencoid2]

"There is no difference in the republic pigs and the democratshits."

That rationalization, mostly by older men, is what condems us to these rapacious prices.

Thanks a lot. Keep supporting the good folks who continue to scr*w and grift us and our country.

Thank you

[spencoid2 in reply to cesces]

I try to vote for the least awful candidate, the one that "agrees" with my politics. But the system is so screwed up that even well intended candidates can do little once they get in office. I think that if Berny Sanders got elected president that even he could not make major changes. Look at how little Obama was able to do. there are some major pigs who care only about their little group.

[cesces in reply to spencoid2]

They do it because we collectively reward them for doing it.

Whether it's Afghanistan or Scandanavia, we get the government we deserve.

And pharmaceutical pricing is 100 percent determined by good or dysfunctional government policy.

For instance, the US supreme court has made it pretty much legal for Pharma to purchase support for their laws. And we permit politicians to basically use that money to purchase the votes through advertising budgets.

That's not how it works in most or all EU countries with much much much lower costs.

That sustains itself here because arbitrary and capricious voting based on emotional needs.

Voting for the party that imported cheap foreign labor for decades because they will kick them out to protect American jobs and wages?????? Huh????

[spencoid2 in reply to cesces]

It all baffles me. I find it hard to believe that so many people can be so stupid. The fact that all it takes is spending a fortune on advertising and the sheep just go along. People who vote completely against their own interest is especially bizarre. Get them all riled up worrying about killing babies and the anti Jesus fags and trannies and they will shoot themselves in their feet. Don't get me going on the antimaskers. Antivax, well who knows who is ultimately right although I really think the specialists who study this stuff really do know a tiny bit more than the average idiot. I don't support conspiracy theories but also know I am not well enough informed (nor is anyone) to really know what is going on. But putting you minor comfort at a higher priority than even a remote possibility of harming another human, I just don't get that.

[Hidden in reply to spencoid2]

I think it's generally excepted if you are vaccinated and boosted your chance of being hospitalized is almost nil. Eat right. Exercise and give up those Fags and the vast majority of people can resume a Normal life. Oh yeah...and leave me alone so I can enjoy by God given rights.

No politics needed.

[spencoid2 in reply to Hidden]

it is the most basic of requirements. i think it is called the golden rule. i think your generally accepted is unfortunately not enough. there is a huge number of people who still deny the benefit of vaccination, it is all a government plot. several of these people have died.

[Hidden in reply to spencoid2]

Personal responsibility needs to come back in a big way in this country....if someone isn't vaccinated by now, that's mainly on them...I know some can't get vaccinated for various reasons. We never sacrifice the majority for a tiny minority. Remember, all those big Government programs that many on this site are so fond of require tax dollars which requires a rationally functioning economy.

[Concerned-wife]

Thank you for sharing this!

[JJFR60]

I’m sorry for being a wet blanket and that you can’t get the meds you need without paying a hefty sum , but living in the Netherlands and using Xtandi I’m very happy with our “socialized” healthcare system. My yearly premium is about 1500 euros , 385 deductible, pre- existing no problem. So when my oncologist prescribed Xtandi , I asked about the side effects, not the costs . I learned later on that is pretty costly. But it’s nice that thru this whole ordeal of chemo , ADT and zaps the only thing I have to worry about is the cancer , not the pricetag.And yes , our tax rate is a whole higher than in the US , but at least everybody benefits , not just the lucky few.

[MamawV]

Our Kaiser Oncologist said there was financial help available so maybe ask your dr?

[MateoBeach]

I just searched yesterday for “abiraterone from India” and “enzalutamide from India”. Several sites selling and shipping at much lower prices. Easy too: can transmit image of prescription to them on WhatsApp and complete order online.

[Boywonder56]

Hard to keep politics out of this thread...its all our faults wether you swing to left or right....i for one wouldnt be alive 5ys after dx if not for irish luck and a loving wife who insisted my high school buddy urologist was knife happy. I got in titan trial and have been on erleada for 4 yrs...but at 16,000.00 a month no way i couldve affordedit. And to stay alive to see this world slowly decend into a cesspool....i shoulve taken the 16 mos..they gave me if i did nothing....sure noone should go without the best if care in this grate country ...but what freedom are you going to give up....they attach their own agendas to evry bill that goes thru congress...anyways what does it matter the chicomms are coming to get us...and this joker in white house will sell us down the river...." if you dont stand for something youll fall for abything...." this world was heaven and god the earth we destroyed it......better luck on mars...b.w.

[anonymoose2]

I got a grant didn’t pay a dime. Very helpful people who are behind this organization and if a grant isn’t available they help you for other options.healthwellfoundation.org/

[jfoesq]

To fix politics in the USA, we must get BIG $$$$ out of it. That's the key!In criminal investigations they always say to "follow the money". Unfortunately- our politicians, at least the very large majority of them, "follow the money" and do what the $$$ tells them to do. Just look at how much time each politician spends raising money. It's INSANE!!!

[OTPrincess in reply to jfoesq]

Not true for everyone. University of Chicago tried to get us a grant. We didn’t qualify be cause of income and we are not rich. We are retired but I have a small pension. We got pensions because that was part of our income compensation… now I am punished for it.

[PabloK in reply to jfoesq]

From your lips to God's ears...pharma spends more on lobbying than oil and defense combined. They use that money to craft messages that will get useful idiots to vote against their own interests.And are very successful in doing it.

[infinitiq70l]

Ask your Dr, to look into two foundations for assistance, The PAN Foundation, Bethesda MD fax # I-866-316-7261 and HEALTHWELL Foundation 800-675-8416. My Dr is on the Board of Erleada and my RX is covered 100%. Good Luck.

[Hidden in reply to infinitiq70l]

I just looked at the PAN and HEALTHWELL Foundations and there are no funds for prostate cancer. Did you get a grant recently? Our oncologist told us about a month ago that things changed with funding. Last year (and prior to that) you could get assistance if your income was under $100k ish (can't remember the exact amount) but now the income max is about $51k for Xtandi. Their practice has an employee who works helping patients get assistance and many men who got funding last year aren't getting it this year. They also said generic Zytiga is almost as much as name brand Zytiga if you are on Medicare.

[infinitiq70l]

My last correspondence from them was in Nov. 2021, this was related to Erleada. The grant period is for one year. I also have received a letter from Medicare saying that Erleada was now covered by them with a deductible. I wonder if the two are connected? I am a member of AARP and send notification to my congressman quarterly regarding our prescription drug program . We all have to voice our outrage regarding our antiquated drug program. Good Luck.