The window for public comments on the FDA’s notice on proposed rulemaking about drug importation under Section 804 of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is closing on Monday March 9th – and I’m not done writing! So, this post will be short and sweet but highly relevant. Of course, lower drug prices in foreign countries are on my mind today – as they often are. And they were also on the minds of the truth-sleuth masters over at Politifact yesterday. The title gives away the answer already so go take a look at how Politifact checks out U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore’s (D-WI) statement: “Prescription drug companies are charging Americans prices that are on average 4x higher than what’s charged in other countries.” Or read on for the super quick explanation.
Rep. Moore’s claim that drug companies charge Americans four times more is fair game, but not precise enough to be entirely true. Very simply, Rep. Moore was looking to the data from the House Ways and Means Committee Report from last year. That report analyzed prices of 79 drugs that comprise 60% of drug spending in Medicare, comparing prices among 11 high-income countries with the U.S. Sure enough prices were 3.7 times higher here.
As a follow-up to that report last fall, PharmacyChecker looked at the prices of many of those same drugs among safe international online pharmacies and found similar price discrepancies. Americans choose to access those lower prices right now, despite federal restrictions on importation. In my forthcoming public comments, I’ll present some ideas for the FDA to more proactively help Americans afford medicine while protecting them from unreasonable risks through Section 804. Gotta get to it.
Wash your hands.
I was a trial subject for Astra Zeneca’s by bydureon. I was one that got the real drag in this blind study. I’ve been taking it for about five years now, lost 70 pounds and have my type two diabetes under control. At this moment I am on commercial insurance. My husband would like to retire but the BCide when we go on Medicare will cost me over $800 a month just for four vials of this stuff a month. I cannot afford that much for one medication. I feel since I was a test study they should give me a break on the price of this medication. I will get drug supplements but I don’t think it’s gonna even help with the price of this medication.Any help or you are looking at drug prices please look at this particular drug. I will probably have to stop taking it $800 is a lot of money for one medicine for someone that is retired.
Price of bydureon When we can go on Medicare will cost us $800 a month for four vials of this drug. I was a drug study participant and I got the real drug. It has done very well for me and I’ve been on it for five years. There is no way I can pay $800 a month for four files of this medication. I do not want to quit taking this medication, but $800 is Way too much money for retired people to pay for one medication. Please keep on doing what you’re doing and get these prices down They are ridiculous and making me dread retirement.
Hi Barbara– I suggest looking at NeedyMeds.org for patient assistance programs that could help lower that financial burden: https://www.needymeds.org/coupons.taf?_function=name_list&gname=exenatide%20synthetic You may find slight savings using this discount coupon search: https://www.pharmacychecker.com/bydureon/
Astra Zeneca BCise bydureon injection.