[BostonCard]

That will be the price for a course of remdeaivir.

https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/g...t-analysis

BC

[BostonCard]

That will be the price for a course of remdeaivir.

https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/g...t-analysis

BC

[Genuine Realist]

One of the epic marketing misjudgments of all time. A case study at the Harvard Business School already.

Where is the tar? Where are the feathers?

[Genuine Realist]

One of the epic marketing misjudgments of all time. A case study at the Harvard Business School already.

Where is the tar? Where are the feathers?

[BostonCard]

Dexamethasone costs $30 for a 5-day course of 6 mg/day.

https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/dexamethasone

BC

[BostonCard]

Dexamethasone costs $30 for a 5-day course of 6 mg/day.

https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/dexamethasone

BC

[M T]

Dexamethasone costs $30 for a 5-day course of 6 mg/day.

I'd sure hope that if/when I get COVID-19, I wouldn't wind up needing that drug, no matter how inexpensive.
As I understand it, if I need dexamethasone, the cost of the remdesivir will be a lot less than the hospital will be charging, and I think less than the doctors will be charging.

It sounds like the pricing may be designed to make it preferred as an early out-patient treatment for high risk cases, to minimize the full expenses of hospitalization for 20% and ICU care for the 5%.

What bothers me is that people may find it cheaper to travel to 3rd world countries for treatment at a savings of more than $2500.  (But, what airlines would take them?  What border would let them cross?  So they lie about their condition.  Or, smuggle drugs back from those countries.)

[M T]

Dexamethasone costs $30 for a 5-day course of 6 mg/day.

I'd sure hope that if/when I get COVID-19, I wouldn't wind up needing that drug, no matter how inexpensive.
As I understand it, if I need dexamethasone, the cost of the remdesivir will be a lot less than the hospital will be charging, and I think less than the doctors will be charging.

It sounds like the pricing may be designed to make it preferred as an early out-patient treatment for high risk cases, to minimize the full expenses of hospitalization for 20% and ICU care for the 5%.

What bothers me is that people may find it cheaper to travel to 3rd world countries for treatment at a savings of more than $2500.  (But, what airlines would take them?  What border would let them cross?  So they lie about their condition.  Or, smuggle drugs back from those countries.)

[2006alum]

I guess this is another example of the glory of the free market?

[2006alum]

I guess this is another example of the glory of the free market?

[Mick]

Can't afford the $3,120, so I plan to buy the placebo...

[Mick]

Can't afford the $3,120, so I plan to buy the placebo...

[burger]

I guess this is another example of the glory of the free market?

Best health care system in the world! </s>

[burger]

I guess this is another example of the glory of the free market?

Best health care system in the world! </s>

[Genuine Realist]

I guess this is another example of the glory of the free market?

Best health care system in the world! </s>

The price isn't going to hold. As the gurus - you know, all those well-educated MBA's from Stanford and Harvard - should known before. There's no one so dumb as a smart fool.

[Genuine Realist]

I guess this is another example of the glory of the free market?

Best health care system in the world! </s>

The price isn't going to hold. As the gurus - you know, all those well-educated MBA's from Stanford and Harvard - should known before. There's no one so dumb as a smart fool.

[BostonCard]

Because it is an IV medicine intended to be taken daily, it will be difficult to give to high risk outpatients, plus it hasn’t been shown to prevent a hospitalization.  Gilead is making an inhaler formulation, made to be given through an inhaler, and intended for outpatients.

As to the price, on average remdeaivir reduces the length of hospitalization by two days in hospitalized patients.  So, they are pricing the drug comparing it to the cost of being hospitalized for two extra days.

BC

[BostonCard]

Because it is an IV medicine intended to be taken daily, it will be difficult to give to high risk outpatients, plus it hasn’t been shown to prevent a hospitalization.  Gilead is making an inhaler formulation, made to be given through an inhaler, and intended for outpatients.

As to the price, on average remdeaivir reduces the length of hospitalization by two days in hospitalized patients.  So, they are pricing the drug comparing it to the cost of being hospitalized for two extra days.

BC

[g1313]

I know nothing about drug pricing so I'm missing he context of why this is such a bad idea? Is it just the optics to the public about the expense of a potentially life saving drug? As a consumer I know that the list prices of most things in the medical field are brobdingnagian (one night in the ICU could be around $10k) but your insurance pays for it and you have very limited ability to shop around anyway. From a quick glance it looks like they are pricing it appropriately for the small proven benefit. If they underpriced so that it artificially stimulated higher demand, wouldn't that take away valuable limited production resources from other medications?

[g1313]

I know nothing about drug pricing so I'm missing he context of why this is such a bad idea? Is it just the optics to the public about the expense of a potentially life saving drug? As a consumer I know that the list prices of most things in the medical field are brobdingnagian (one night in the ICU could be around $10k) but your insurance pays for it and you have very limited ability to shop around anyway. From a quick glance it looks like they are pricing it appropriately for the small proven benefit. If they underpriced so that it artificially stimulated higher demand, wouldn't that take away valuable limited production resources from other medications?

[chrisk]

The US government will be controlling distribution initially while supplies are constrained.

[chrisk]

The US government will be controlling distribution initially while supplies are constrained.

[BostonCard]

Here's a good discussion of the issues:

https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/g...groups-and

BC

[BostonCard]

Here's a good discussion of the issues:

https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/g...groups-and

BC

[M T]

... plus it hasn’t been shown to prevent a hospitalization. 

If Remdesivir has not yet been studied as a drug given early in the course of the infection (during the viral replication stage, before hospitalization is normally required), that's a shame.  Even if there is a reason the IV can't be given to an outpatient (at a clinic, like blood donation, dialysis, cancer treatments, ...), it would seem that a small study could have been done with hospitalizing some willing, high-risk patients soon after symptom onset and giving them the IVs.  Perhaps there was such a study and I am unaware of it.

If an early course of Remdesivir reduces the virus enough to mostly avoid the immune system kicking into overdrive, and results in less frequent hospitalizations (& ICU & death), imagine what the inhalation form will cost if they price it at the cost of the hospitalization it reduces.

[M T]

... plus it hasn’t been shown to prevent a hospitalization. 

If Remdesivir has not yet been studied as a drug given early in the course of the infection (during the viral replication stage, before hospitalization is normally required), that's a shame.  Even if there is a reason the IV can't be given to an outpatient (at a clinic, like blood donation, dialysis, cancer treatments, ...), it would seem that a small study could have been done with hospitalizing some willing, high-risk patients soon after symptom onset and giving them the IVs.  Perhaps there was such a study and I am unaware of it.

If an early course of Remdesivir reduces the virus enough to mostly avoid the immune system kicking into overdrive, and results in less frequent hospitalizations (& ICU & death), imagine what the inhalation form will cost if they price it at the cost of the hospitalization it reduces.