Pharma Making $$ Hand Over Fist on Oncology Drugs

[cujoe]

Read it and weep! (Or check your wallet at your cancer door.)

medpagetoday.com/hematology...

[cujoe]

should read (or check your wallet at your cancer Center's door.)

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to cujoe]

You can edit your post via the "More v" option.

Interesting comments to that article too.

Neil

[Jonquiljo]

Just a "twist" to what is said in the article. I was warned by one of my wife's physicians (who actually has lung cancer himself - being held in place by a checkpoint inhibitor) to avoid private cancer centers (small groups of Drs that use local hospitals). He said that smaller private cancer groups/partnerships often try to treat you with medications that they can supply inpatient to run up a big bill.

So this was the opinion of a well known local Dr who has been practicing (not oncology) for over 35 years. So - you get it each way from these guys.

Frankly I think the cost of cancer medicine is financially breaking a lot of heath care systems and cancer sufferers. You can't get any more foul than that - to take advantage of people who are facing potentially life threatening illnesses. We need to force price controls on a world scale.

Great article. I'm going to put a copy in my archives!

[phenry60]

Good to point this out. You wonder how money making influences products / drug promises, which influences human attitudes.

[Hidden]

The ONLY way I continue to receive Imbruvica is from grants from PAN and others, plus some from my insurance company. I just can't believe I have to get funding from another agency like PAN and others who need to know your income, etc. etc. etc. when I pay about $450/mo for medical insurance including an Rx plan that does pay part of the Imbruvica cost. It's like begging for money when I should have the coverage I need already!

[Hoffy]

I am not excited by the prices but Imbruvica and Venetoclax are literally saving my life,

Who I do not approve of are the insurance companies. They add very little value and a lot of expense,

The drug companies are doing a great deal of research with their profits!

Be well,

Hoffy

[cujoe]

Rue the day that the government allowed direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs. Many pharmaceutical companies now spend more on such advertising than they do on research . . . and where do you think they get the money for that advertising? Bingo, higher drug prices. Good luck with getting that revenue producing genie back in the regulatory bottle any time soon. Best government money can buy! . . . Be Well - cujoe

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to cujoe]

Only two countries in the world allow direct advertising of prescription drugs to the general population, the USA and New Zealand - which clearly shows how inappropriate this is. Doctors don't like it, because there are only few instances where an advertised drug may help a patient of theirs, compared to the many, many more instances of wasted time explaining to their patients why an advertised prescription drug is not appropriate for them.