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High cost of MS medicines is forcing many patients to take ‘drastic actions'

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    High cost of MS medicines is forcing many patients to take ‘drastic actions'

    The high cost of multiple sclerosis treatments has forced 40% of patients to take “drastic actions” and alter their use of the medicines, such as cutting back or skipping dosages altogether. And many report the financial burden is not only hurting their lifestyle, but impairing their ability to save for retirement or college for their children, a new survey found.

    For instance, 14% reported they switched to a generic, despite being satisfied with their existing treatment; 12% stopped using their medication for a period of time; 9% skipped or delayed filling a prescription; and 8% took less of their medicine than prescribed, according to the survey by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

    Meanwhile, the out-of-pocket costs associated with the medicines meant that 25% of the nearly 600 patients who responded to the survey spent less on themselves. In addition, 16% saved less for retirement or college, 11% spent less on groceries, 9% postponed paying other bills, 4% postponed retirement, and 2% took a second job.

    "The survey findings continue to tell the real story of what it’s like for people with MS to get the treatment that they need,” said Bari Talente, executive vice president of advocacy for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which canvassed patients last summer. “It is these experiences and perspectives that should lead every conversation happening about drug pricing and access.”

    The results emerge amid a wider national debate over the cost of medicines in general. Drug pricing has become a key pocketbook issue for many Americans, prompting the Trump administration to devise several plans, none of which have gained traction, and Congress to propose numerous bills. But whether legislation will proceed remains unclear.

    The cost of multiple sclerosis medicines, however, has been one of the flashpoints, as studies have demonstrated that patients and taxpayers face rising costs.

    Last year, a study in Neurology found that multiple sclerosis patients paid $15 a month average out-of-pocket costs in 2004, but that jumped to an average of $309 a month by 2016, a 20-fold increase over a 12-year period. Patients with high-deductible plans paid an average of $661 per month compared to $246 a month for those not in a high-deductible plan two years ago.

    A recently study in JAMA Neurology found that over a recent 10-year period, rising prices for multiple sclerosis drugs caused Medicare spending for the medicines to rise more than 10 times, and Part D beneficiaries saw out-of-pocket costs increase more than sevenfold. Spending per 1,000 beneficiaries by the health program jumped from nearly $7,800 in 2006 to more than $79,400 in 2016.

    Meanwhile, the wholesale, or list, prices for a dozen drugs — new and old — continued to rise between 2014 and 2019, according to academics at Oregon Health and Science University, whose earlier research found prices for older medicines kept rising even as newer treatments were launched. The prices for the medicines ranged from approximately $76,000 to nearly $99,000.

    For instance, Gilenya, a Novartis (NVS) drug, rose from $63,444 to $99,896, while the cost of Avonex, which is sold by Biogen (BIIB), increased from $59,085 to $$90,035. Tecfidera, another Biogen drug, climbed from $59,957 to $94,991. List prices do not reflect any rebates a drug maker may pay for favorable placement on formularies, the list of medicines covered by health plans.

    Price hikes have not gone unnoticed on Wall Street, either.

    Earlier this month, PiperJaffray analyst Christopher Raymond expressed surprise that Biogen boosted prices as it did. As an example, he cited the Tysabri, which rose 3.5% and experienced price hikes in January 2019 and again in July 2019 by the same amount. Similarly, the list price for Tecfidera rose 6%, mirroring the price hike early last year.

    “We think this is somewhat remarkable, given how much scrutiny has been assigned to pharmaceutical drug pricing — both in terms of tactics and industry structure — over the last several years,” he wrote in an investor note. “But the broader point here is that … drug pricing mechanisms and economics that have attracted so much negative attention in recent years remain very much intact.”



    https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2...drug-prices-2/

    #2
    Of course companies have a right to recoup drug research costs. I can also see if costs raise because manufacturing, operational, and insurance costs go up.

    But the price jump seems to be more than that. So upsetting and demonstrates the pure pursuit of profit.
    Kathy
    DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

    Comment


      #3
      One other thought I had is that the drug companies may be seeing that our elected officials of both parties in DC are starting to take up the cause of escalating drug prices affecting their constituents. It may be pharmaceutical companies know this and are trying to get whatever they can before drug pricing changes, at least I hope it changes.

      Final caveat, this is not a political opinion or an invitation to discuss politics. Please don't take it that way.
      Kathy
      DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

      Comment


        #4
        Copaxone

        Recovered the R&D cost 20 years ago but still charge an unconscionable amount.

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by robert152 View Post
          Recovered the R&D cost 20 years ago but still charge an unconscionable amount.
          Agree, especially the older drugs.
          Kathy
          DX 01/06, currently on Tysabri

          Comment

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