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Why is it difficult to find out how much newer cancer drugs cost?
I was looking up TARCEVA (erlotinib) which is a pill used for advanced pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer patients. It may add some months of survival time in a minority of people with these very serious malignancies. It seems difficult to find out how much a month of treatment costs. I'm sure it varies, but in this age of health care cost consciousness, this information should be readily accessible. Perhaps I'm not search correctly for this information.
I realize the thinking that "no cost is too great to buy some time," but this is the attitude that may allow pharmaceutical companies to charge excessively without some measure of profit control - greed seeming to be epidemic these days.
"SuperVib" found this easily enough. There is high variability. But his site lists generic prices. I think this information should be included with the product information which is where I searched. The expense might be considered a "side effect." An oncology nurse friend tells me it is more like $4000 per month in the U.S. - cost to patient. That's $133 per pill. If it never cures and helps only a small fraction of people, is this cost effective in a cost conscious nation? Just playing devil's advocate here. I realize everyone in these desperate situations will want this medication, and I would too. But does it really need to be so expensive?
"notalone.." knows first hand about this. The drug company programs to provide meds for non-insured people is a very good reform. I do realize the high research costs involved to come up with new meds. I don't know if there is any regulation of the charges that drug company executives decide upon. It has become more difficult to trust corporate executives with recent revelations in the news.
Note that President Obama and White House Budget Director Peter Orszag have repeatedly stated their commitment to reduce health care costs that have been spiraling out of control in the U.S. So where do we start? I would pay the PhD researchers more and the drug company business executives much less, but that's my bias.
5 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Prices on drugs are REALLY different depending on factors, such as who is buying. Insurance companies pay much less for drugs than a patient alone would. The best way to get a straight answer is to ask your doctor or pharmacist. Thankfully I had great insurance. I had to find out from my doctor that my daily injection of neupogen cost $1,000 each!
p.s.
If commercials for perscription drugs were made illegal, the cost to drug companies would go down. Also, they would have to rely on the effectiveness of their product and not the flashiness of their commercial to draw in consumers!
Source(s): Stage IV cancer survivor - Anonymous1 decade ago
It could cost up to $3,000 for a month's supply. There are some people that have a hard time using their insurance to get Tarceva. If this happens, often a call from your oncologist to the insurance company may help. Here is some info from the manufacturers of tarceva that may help, they will often help pro bono for people that are under insured or not insured.
Genentech, the company that manufactures Tarceva, has a financial aid
program for uninsured or under-insured people to pay for part or all of
the medication. Their toll-free number for information is (800) 530-3083
and their website is: https://www.spoconline.com/spoconline/index.jsp
Source(s): http://www.gene.com/gene/products/ - 1 decade ago
Good question.
About the dilemma of how much is too much, we as a country spend a massive amount of health care dollars patching, surgering and rehabbing then supporting gang members who shoot each other up, so I guess three is no easy answer.
Lung cancer amongst smokers, illegal aliens hopping the border and giving birth in US hospitals with no way to pay, drunk drivers maiming victims, drug addicts requiring treatment, federal payments for abotions here and overseas- I really see no way out of these controversial but costly situations.
My breast cancer drug, Femara, costs $10.00 per day and I thought that was a lot......
- CBLv 71 decade ago
Because you didn't use Google I guess.. I don't have another explanation. I checked for it and found a comparative listing by price in less than ten seconds. It runs from 1500-2500 bucks for a 30 day supply.
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