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Cost of developing new drugs may be lower than industry claims: trial

(www.theguardian.com)
275 points swores | 4 comments | 25 Apr 24 12:25 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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hi-v-rocknroll ◴[26 Apr 24 19:23 UTC] No.40173019[source]▶
Semaglutide retails for $17k USD/year in the US but costs only $60 to make. Perhaps it could be argued that the autoinjectors are "expensive", but not $17k/year and oral forms are coming online to make this item moot. In limited circumstances, excessive profits cross into the realm of price gouging and shouldn't be allowed by regulatory enforcement.
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bhk ◴[26 Apr 24 19:47 UTC] No.40173371[source]▶
But they need these huge margins to pay for the politicians and media coverage (or absence thereof) that allow them to do what they do.
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hi-v-rocknroll ◴[26 Apr 24 22:18 UTC] No.40174935[source]▶
Martin Shkreli approves because some medications just don't cost enough for the benefits they provide. When we reductively reduce the value of human life to QALY and profits, part of our humanity slips away.

PS: I can't currently afford semaglutide but require it to offset the side-effects of mirtazapine. Resting HR: 110(!), BP: 175/95, BMI: 32.0. Perhaps I should find a cheap way to visit France or maybe someone in France would send me a year's worth if I paid them.

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heavyset_go ◴[26 Apr 24 22:56 UTC] No.40175237[source]▶
> PS: I can't currently afford semaglutide but require it to offset the side-effects of mirtazapine

What side-effects? I take the same medication.

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1. hi-v-rocknroll ◴[26 Apr 24 23:31 UTC] No.40175482[source]▶
You're lucky then. It's routinely given off-label to elderly people specifically as an orexigenic.
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2. heavyset_go ◴[26 Apr 24 23:36 UTC] No.40175505[source]▶
I'm genuinely asking what side effects to look out for, because I don't know.
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3. hi-v-rocknroll ◴[27 Apr 24 00:41 UTC] No.40175993[source]▶
Anecdotally (since I'm only one person) it caused reduced muscle tone of the large intestine, slight elevation in BP, and weight gain. I tried 17 antidepressants by titrating on and off various ones for 25+ years. It's the only one that led to significant improvement for 3 years with reduced effect for years 4-9 but now I'm barely treading water with it. Skipping a single dose overnight feels exactly like an (alcohol) hangover.

PSA: If some is prone to major depression - exercise, going outside regularly, and avoiding alcohol aren't vague suggestions doctors make casually, they're pretty close to life-saving.

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4. heavyset_go ◴[28 Apr 24 18:26 UTC] No.40190629{3}[source]▶
Thanks for the info. Yeah, nothing has ever challenged my willpower when it comes to diet like mirtazapine has. I've had to cut out sugar and other carbohydrates entirely because I just crave more while on the medication.

One of the "good" things about it is that it lends well to combinations with other drugs if it's not working on its own.

> PSA: If some is prone to major depression - exercise, going outside regularly, and avoiding alcohol aren't vague suggestions doctors make casually, they're pretty close to life-saving.

Agreed, exercise has very much saved my life.