Besremi Price Increase

[hunter5582]

Reviewing my Cigna Medicare Part D summary I noticed a 2% price increase in Besremi. The total cost to my plan is now $16,970.69/2 doses. For others in the USA, you may see a different price due to how drug costs are negotiated by Pharmacy Benefit Management companies that contract with insurors.

I am quite fortunate that on my plan I have a $2,000/year cap on out-of-pocket expenses for medications. I have already passed that cap for this year. All meds come with a $0.00 copay for the rest of the year. Not everyone is so fortunate. Many simply cannot afford the copay for these more expensive medications. In other systems, expensive medications are not available or are very difficult to access. Despite how expensive it is, I consider myself very fortunate to have access to the insurance plan I am on.

Wishing all of you all the best as well as access to the treatment of your choice.

[sbs_patient]

These prices are only sustainable as long as insurance/government is willing to pay them; the whole pharmaceutical system would collapse if individuals had to pay for their own medications. My daily dose of Jakafi is now 15 mg; since Incyte doesn't make 15 mg tablets, this means my insurance company pays for 30 10-mg tablets and 30 5-mg tablets, at a cost of $16,980 per month. My copay for this year is $3328.34, and next year it will go down to $2000. Since this is a matter for both politics and economics, all I can do is be grateful for each year as it comes.

[gjh8733 in reply to sbs_patient]

There is a 15 mg Jakafi pill

Pill container

[sbs_patient in reply to gjh8733]

Thanks! I'll have to talk about this when I see my hematologist CRNP in a couple of weeks.

[hunter5582 in reply to sbs_patient]

Our friend gjh8733 is correct. Jakafi comes in 5-10-15-20-25 mg doses. There may be an issue with your insurance company if they did not contract for the 15mg dose, but that seems unlikely.

[sbs_patient in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks, Hunter. Of course, since I now take 10 mg in the morning and 5 mg in the evening, the doses are spaced out over the day, as recommended by the manufacturer. To do this with 15 mg pills would require cutting the pills in half, which is apparently frowned upon in the US. Furthermore, a Jakafi package contains 60 pills, which would not count as a 30-day supply as required by Medicare and insurance companies.

[hunter5582 in reply to sbs_patient]

That makes a bit more sense. With a total daily dose of 15mg, splitting it up between 10-5mg makes sense. Too bad it makes it more expensive, but that is how it works.

All the best.

[EPguy in reply to sbs_patient]

to sbs_patient

There is at least one member splitting the pills. I've looked into it, studied the ingredients, even called the mfr, and best I can tell there is no coating or layers on Rux. In fact it feels like a cheap uncoated aspirin. So splitting should be fine. But my Dr has issue with it. For now I'm 10BID so don't need to address it yet.

[sbs_patient in reply to EPguy]

Thanks for the reassurance, should I ever think seriously about taking that road. Currently, 10+5 is working for me, and I doubt I would gain much if anything by shifting to 7.5 BID.

[DougyW]

We have many issues with the NHS but this makes me glad for it. I feel sorry for the many who cannot afford insurance over their.

[WYLDEMANSWOMAN]

The pharmacy I deal with (Onco360), works with my insurance and identified a "coupon". I pay $0 for Besremi as well.

[Loooonglife]

WOW! That’s $8500.-per 500ug syringe. I have a $20 copayment per dose. Still, I have been using each syringe for 2 doses (140ug each), which halves the cost. If this is being considered by anyone on this forum, I would advise to consult with your hematologist first.

[EPguy in reply to Loooonglife]

The Euro label actually provides for two doses from each, although it is in pen form. They even get access to a 250ml syringe. I think the only diff is a pen limits the plunger stroke automatically. US FDA had issues with the pen I believe, hence the clunky procedure with single dose/syringe.

--

"Besremi 250 micrograms/0.5 mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen

Besremi 500 micrograms/0.5 mL solution for injection in pre-filled pen"

"The pre-filled pen may not be used more than twice"

ec.europa.eu/health/documen...

So in theory a Euro pt could get 125mcg per dose and waste no product.

I'm not certain Bes is still sold this way there, any Euro members can advise.

[william-Indo]

Medicines price in US is very very expensive compare to Asian countries.

My Pegasys price has up to 100% (RM.1.870 /dose) but still cheaper than your Besremi.

Meds made in US, but their selling prices higher than aboard

[RedCardRob]

I consider myself very fortunate to be in the UK with our NHS. There are occasional rumours about the med insurances system being looked into by government departments but these quickly disappear either through electioneering fears or being beaten down...quietly (especially after COVID)As sbs_patient mentions that it is a balance with governments/pharma companies on where the cash goes.

[KLCTJC]

I will be interested as the cost to my plan a month is $20,405.33 (to be exact) for 2 doses. I am so fortunate that my insurance pays for it and my copay is $70 which I felt was reasonable. But I am also dual insured. And tricare has been such a blessing to my family. So grateful for my husband and his continued service. But so scared that in 2025 all could change.

[Cassandra61]

How utterly ghastly for you, I hope you find a way forward and stay well, we all need your knowledge, wisdom and encouragement.

[AndyT]

Europe seems to be going down a different route by licensing Pegasys specifically for use in MPNs, rather than off-label use, which should provide a significantly lower cost way of accessing interferon than Besremi and hopefully ensure its ongoing availability.

I know some people find that Besremi works better for them but I’ve also heard of others who’ve switched from it to Pegasys with better response and/or less side effects.

In an ideal world we’d have the choice of both drugs but access to either is a good result. Pegasys keeps working well for me after 9 years 🤞

[PhysAssist]

Hi Hunter,

Thanks for the heads-up,, I'll have to look and see what, if anything it shows up as for me.

Best,

PA