The standard advice for consumers is: if you are prescribed a medicine, always ask if there is a cheaper generic. Questions: 1. According to the article, why are consumers told the opposite on some drugs – take name brand drugs and pay a higher co-pay? 2. What does Dr. Diller mean by “It’s Alice-in-Wonderland time… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Generic drugs
Mylan Settles with the Government
According to the New York Times, Mylan, the maker of the allergy treatment EpiPen, said Friday that it had reached a $465 million settlement with the Justice Department and other government agencies over questions on whether the company had overcharged Medicaid for the treatment by improperly classifying it as a generic drug. Questions: 1. What… Read more »
Submarine Patents: What is their Role?
Humira and Enbrel are biologic drugs, composed of complex proteins made in living cells. Humira was the No. 1 selling biologic with $14 billion in global sales and Enbrel was the No. 3 biologic at $8.7 billion. Questions: 1. Approximately how much is the yearly price tag for these drugs per patient? 2. During the… Read more »
“A Very Dangerous Process”
Specialists in infectious disease are protesting a gigantic overnight increase in the price of Daraprim,a 62-year-old drug that is the standard of care for treating malaria and toxoplasmosis. Questions: 1. What are the causes of price increases for drugs like Daraprim? 2. What is the past controversy associated with Martin Shkreli, the founder and chief… Read more »