Tysabri Copay

[katieinVT]

I'm curious to know how much of a copay people are being charged for Tysabri. I remember when it originally came out people were being charged anywhere from $0 to $90 per infusion.

Thanks!
Katie

[torres]

I pay $246.99 a month. It's a scary bill but BCBS pays 90% of the Tysabri infusion which is $5,076.26 a month so I can't complain.

Diane

[HarryZ]

I pay $246.99 a month. It's a scary bill but BCBS pays 90% of the Tysabri infusion which is $5,076.26 a month so I can't complain.

Diane

Wow, somebody is making a few bucks on this procedure!! The wholesale cost of Tysabri from Biogen is about $ 2300.00. I guess everyone wants to get their slice of the pie.

At 13 infusions required a year, that means a cost of almost $ 66,000 per patient.....for a drug that's efficacy is questionable at least

Harry

[msladyinca]

Hi Diane and Katie,

for a drug that's efficacy is questionable at least

Truth is,Tysabri's efficacy is proven 68% superior.

From the New England Journal of Medicine : N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 2;354(9):899-910 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... s=16510744

Additionally,

At 13 infusions required a year, that means a cost of almost $ 66,000 per patient

Another truth, at $2184.62 per vial (wholesale) x's 13 infusions per year, that's equivalent to $28,400.06 per year, with most ins. co's covering same as an outpatient procedure. It's the infusion centers are price gouging the ins. co's and the patients. And when most fall in line with what is reasonable to charge, don't be surprised if the ones doing the price gouging now are left in the dust with lost patients, lost dr. referrals, lost ins. payments, etc.

Take care ladies and Happy New Year to you both!

Lauren

[Shayk]

From the NEJM abstract

Natalizumab reduced the rate of clinical relapse at one year by 68 percent

I don't understand why they're quoting one year data in a two year trial. Could you please tell us the number and percent of people on Tysabri who had a relapse in the two year trial and give us the same data for the placebo group?

Personally I find that particular statistic you (and Biogen) repeatedly quote meaningless.

Thanks

Sharon

[HarryZ]

Truth is,Tysabri's efficacy is proven 68% superior.

I guess you can use numbers to try and prove almost anything. That 68% is what Biogen says is a relative reduction of relapse rate over the placebo used in the trials.....not 68% superior!

[/color]Another truth, at $2184.62 per vial (wholesale) x's 13 infusions per year, that's equivalent to $28,400.06 per year, with most ins. co's covering same as an outpatient procedure. It's the infusion centers are price gouging the ins. co's and the patients. And when most fall in line with what is reasonable to charge, don't be surprised if the ones doing the price gouging now are left in the dust with lost patients, lost dr. referrals, lost ins. payments, etc.

Do you honestly think that any infusion center is only going to charge the patient the wholesale cost of the drug??!! These are the very infusion centers that Biogen is approving to administer Tysabri. Biogen set the tone for these centers when they jacked up the price of the drug by about 22% before the second FDA approval. With the risks associated with this drug and all the precautions that must be taken, these centers are going to charge as much as they can. No wonder we are hearing about insurance companies balking at approving this treatment.

At least we know who is going to have a very Happy New Year....Biogen and the infusion centers as they march to bank with their ludicrous profits on this medication!

Harry

[msladyinca]

Personally, I wasn't quoting Biogen, I was quoting the findings of the New England Journal of Medicine...you can review them for yourself to answer your own questions - it's called "Due Diligence":

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... d_Abstract

which lists other links for you to research for yourself.
Links Listed there - Comment on:
N Engl J Med.2006 Jun 1;354(22):2387-9; author reply 2387-9.
N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 2;354(9):899-910.
N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 2;354(9):911-23.
N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 2;354(9):924-33.
N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 2;354(9):965-7.
Natalizumab for relapsing multiple sclerosis.

Have fun ya'll. Byeeeee......,

Lauren

[HarryZ]

Personally, I wasn't quoting Biogen, I was quoting the findings of the New England Journal of Medicine...you can review them for yourself to answer your own questions - it's called "Due Diligence":

And where do you think the NEJ obtains their information...from the data supplied by Biogen. If you believe everything that Biogen has told us about Tysabri then fine. I just don't have the same trust in that company than you have. Remember, this is the same company that refused to provide the trial data to Anita Smith's family legal team that is suing Biogen. It took a court order from a judge to force Biogen to do this. He severely chastised Biogen for being so stubborn and cold hearted in refusing at first to provide this data.

I'm betting Biogen eventually settles this case out of court to avoid what the lawyers will make public in court.

Harry