Inhaled levidopa to reduce “off” time episodes.

[Mogul1]

My awesome wife received a thank you letter from The Michael J. Fox Foundation after making a contribution.

The letter described “INBRIJA”. Here’s a quote, “The FDA recently approved Inbrija, an inhaled levodopa powder, for patients who experience “off” episodes. This is the first Parkinson’s therapy directly funded by the Foundation to receive regulatory approval. “

How cool is that? The question is, has anyone tried it? And does it cost an arm and a leg?

[laglag]

I've heard it is very expensive but I don't know how much very expensive is. My neurologist said it should be out in June, 2019.

[Hidden]

biopharmadive.com/news/acor...

Analysts expect the drug to cost between $5,000 to $10,000 per year, while the company projects peak annual sales of Inbrija could eventually reach more than $800 million. But getting there could take some doing.Dec 24, 2018

biopharmadive.com/news/acor...

Art

[Blackfeather]

From what I understand, it won't be sold by pharmacies. They will have their own salesforce calling on neuros and working through them. I know the Fox foundation is touting this drug as a major achievement. I leave it there.

[Juliegrace in reply to Blackfeather]

Doesn't that make them a for-profit organization then?

[lempa_nik]

Since Inbrija is a "levodopa inhalation powder," I wonder if the powder would build up in the lungs and increasingly block the supply of oxygen. Unless the lungs have some way of promptly cleaning out solid deposits, this sounds like a bad deal. Also, with all due respect to the Fox Foundation's achievement, the only thing new about this medicine is the method of delivery: by inhalation. Frankly, I am not impressed . . . . especially at a price of $400 - 800 per month. Levodopa costs way less than that. What are we paying for? The research to bring it to market?