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Author Topic: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out  (Read 23285 times)

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Offline Coach Mike

  • Member
  • Posts: 292
    • Affordable Hepatitis C Treatment
Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« on: August 31, 2016, 10:41:59 am »
Harvard Study Finally Admits Drug Prices are High Because Government Grants Big Pharma a Monopoly

In what can only be described as paradigm-shattering research on drug prices, the Journal of the American Medical Association has officially recognized why drug prices skyrocket in America.

https://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2016/08/harvard-study-finally-admits-drug.html

We have always known.....
cm
Genotype 1a, Biopsy:11/2014: F-1, Tx Naive
Fibrosure, 7/20/15: F-1-2
Pre tx v/l: 1,600,000, ALT: 75, AST: 48
Started generic sofosbuvir & ledipasvir: 10/23/15
4 wk labs: 11/19/15, ALT: 21, AST: 16, V/L:  UND
Started 8 week Harvoni tx: 11/20/15
8 wk labs, 12/15/15, ALT: 15, AST: 13, V/L: UND
4/11/16 12 week EOT-Undetected
7/5/16 SVR 24

Offline FutureThinker

  • Member
  • Posts: 711
  • Onward and upward!
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2016, 12:54:19 pm »
Thanks Coach Mike -- BTW, I got my SVR 12 club admittance last week! Hope all is going well, FT
Treatment naive
Likely contracted mid-70s
Diagnosed 1a, 2011
F1-2
Harvoni X 12 weeks, completed 5/17/16
Pre-treatment: VL 3 mil, AST 64, ALT 84
4 week labs: VL 30, AST 21, ALT 14
8 week labs: VL UD!!!, AST 22, ALT 16
12 week labs: VL UD, AST 23, ALT 14
2 wk EOT: VL UD
12 wk EOT: VL UD, AST 22, ALT 13 =  SVR 12! Yay! 
Last hep appointment: VL UD, AST 19, ALT 12 = SVR 39! I AM DONE!

Offline Coach Mike

  • Member
  • Posts: 292
    • Affordable Hepatitis C Treatment
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2016, 01:05:59 pm »
That's great news, FT!!
Really great news!
cm
Genotype 1a, Biopsy:11/2014: F-1, Tx Naive
Fibrosure, 7/20/15: F-1-2
Pre tx v/l: 1,600,000, ALT: 75, AST: 48
Started generic sofosbuvir & ledipasvir: 10/23/15
4 wk labs: 11/19/15, ALT: 21, AST: 16, V/L:  UND
Started 8 week Harvoni tx: 11/20/15
8 wk labs, 12/15/15, ALT: 15, AST: 13, V/L: UND
4/11/16 12 week EOT-Undetected
7/5/16 SVR 24

Offline FutureThinker

  • Member
  • Posts: 711
  • Onward and upward!
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2016, 06:49:00 pm »
Thanks, Coach!

This is a MUST READ article if anyone wants to understand some of the "quirkiness" of the US healthcare system, esp. as it relates to pharmaceuticals.  It is full of valuable information and I strongly encourage all to read it! FT
Treatment naive
Likely contracted mid-70s
Diagnosed 1a, 2011
F1-2
Harvoni X 12 weeks, completed 5/17/16
Pre-treatment: VL 3 mil, AST 64, ALT 84
4 week labs: VL 30, AST 21, ALT 14
8 week labs: VL UD!!!, AST 22, ALT 16
12 week labs: VL UD, AST 23, ALT 14
2 wk EOT: VL UD
12 wk EOT: VL UD, AST 22, ALT 13 =  SVR 12! Yay! 
Last hep appointment: VL UD, AST 19, ALT 12 = SVR 39! I AM DONE!

Offline AllShookUp

  • Member
  • Posts: 30
  • "itching like a man on a fuzzy tree" - Not anymore
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2016, 09:41:00 pm »
A little off topic but how about that "shaming" of Mylan in regards to their Epipen and then their wiggling out by making a generic version for half the price to sell in direct competition to their own branded product.
I also look forward to the day when that twerp pharma bro, Martin Shkreli, goes to jail for securities fraud.
Happy SVR12 to ya FT.
Male - BabyBoomer
1995 - diagnosed HCV
2002 - Peg + Riba - quit after 5 weeks severe anemia
2015 Nov -start 12 weeks Harvoni +Riba + Procrit
Gen 1b - VL 1,500,000 -ALT93-AST143
Comp cirrhosis - enlarged spleen - platelets 35
Week 5 of Tx - HCV undetected - ALT/AST normal
End Week 12 of Tx - HCV UD - ALT/AST normal
Jan. 25, 2016 EOT
April 4, 2016 - SVR10 UD - ALT/AST normal
May 5, 2016 - SVR14 UD - ALT/AST normal
Aug 5, 2016 - SVR28 UD - ALT/AST normal

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2017, 12:37:48 pm »
is it safe to assume that doctors out there are getting kick-backs for using particular vendors or suppliers for hep c drugs?

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2017, 01:12:15 pm »
Aren't there a few more moving parts here? Insurers who control who gets approved for treatment and which treatments they'll cover? Prescription benefit handlers such as CVS Caremark (which made a deal with Harvoni) vs. Express Scripts (which made a deal with vPak)? Large employers who self-insure (using brand-name insurers to handle the paperwork) and pick a single prescription benefit manager for however many health plans they offer? My hepatologist normally works with one specialty pharmacy, but the employer footing the bill for my tx uses only CVS Caremark's specialty pharmacy for all of the insurance plans available to employees, so my hepatologist's specialty pharmacy passed the prescription on to CVS Caremark. There are other similar examples in some of the 2015 threads.
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #7 on: June 24, 2017, 08:04:04 am »
THAT'S VERY INTERESTING! THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE MY DR.HAS ALREADY SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL OF A 12 WEEK TREATMENT FOR ME. THAT WAS OVER A MONTH AGO! I JUST CANNOT SEEM TO GET ANY ANSWERS AS TO WHY THINGS @ THIS POINT ARE MOVING SO SLOW!I'M TRYING TO BE PATIENT, BUT FOR ME THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS GIVEN ME A LOT OF ANXIETY. I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO FOR INFORMATION AND I'M REALLY STRESSED OUT OVER IT.

MIKE

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #8 on: June 24, 2017, 08:17:02 am »
When I saw the hepatologist to get a Harvoni prescription, he and the nurse told me to expect it to take around 3 months before insurance approved and the medicine arrived. (That was even though I took within 48 hours all the tests they said the insurance companies want.) They were surprised when I received the insurance approval letter in only seven-and-a-half weeks.
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2017, 08:34:16 am »
THANKS GNAT, AT LEAST THIS GIVES ME AN IDEA AS TO WHAT TO EXPECT. IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING, WHO IS YOUR INSURANCE CO? MINE IS AETNA

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2017, 10:43:47 am »
Mine went through Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield to CVSCaremark.
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2017, 06:38:11 am »
THANKS GNAT. BTW I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD ON ANYTHING
MIKE

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2017, 07:11:19 am »
If you haven't already, call the office of the doctor who put in the prescription, say how long it's been without your hearing anything, and ask when you can expect to hear something. You can also call Aetna, say that your doctor submitted for approval on X date, and ask if Aetna has all the lab tests, etc., it needs in order to approve your treatment. If Aetna has everything, then ask how long the process is going to take. Sometimes it pays to be a (polite) squeaky wheel.

Good luck,

Gnatty
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2017, 07:37:20 pm »
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DR. OFFICE MORE THAN ONCE. BUT HONESTLY I HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO ANYONE FROM AETNA EXCEPT VIA E MAIL. THEIR RESPONSES ARE VERY ROBOTIC IF YOU KNOW WHT I MEAN. THE DR OFFICE KEEPS SAYING STUFF ABOUT THEIR VENDORS. I JUST DONT QUITE UNDERSTAND.I HAVE HEP C, CIRRHOSIS, MY AFP WAS F4. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED. I HAVE COPIES OF ALL MY BLOOD WORK ALSO CT SCAN W/CONTRAST.ALL OF THIS TESTING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FEB. 7, 2017. I NEVER MENTION MY AGE, I WILL BE 65 AT THE END OF JULY. IM ALMOST AT THE POINT OF GOING TO AN ATTORNEY, BUT IM NOT SURE OF THE GUILTY PARTY. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO MY RANT.

MIKE

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2017, 08:32:05 pm »
Almost five months and still no result -- ouch! The free Patient Advocate Foundation's Hepatitis C Careline can probably help you cut through the red tape: http://hepatitisc.hcvadvocate.org/tag/patient-advocate-foundaton
https://hepatitisc.pafcareline.org
Others on this site have gotten help there.

Hope this does the trick for you, Mike.

Gnatty
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #15 on: June 27, 2017, 09:07:31 pm »
IM GOING TO TRY AND MAKE SOME CALLS TOMORROW. IM STARTING TO GET PISSED, BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO BE COOL.

THANKS GNATTY

Offline lporterrn

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,969
  • LucindaPorterRN
    • LucindaPorterRN
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #16 on: June 28, 2017, 01:04:21 pm »
Mike - definitely get help - it's been too long.
As for your question, "is it safe to assume that doctors out there are getting kick-backs for using particular vendors or suppliers for hep c drugs?"
This is prohibited and if they did, they would lose their license. Some docs favor one drug over another because of clinical experience.
Lucinda Porter, RN
1988 Contracted HCV
1997 Interferon nonresponder
2003 PEG + ribavirin responder-relapser
2013 Cured (Harvoni + ribavirin clinical trial)
https://www.hepmag.com/blogger/lucindakporter

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #17 on: July 01, 2017, 12:08:32 pm »
 GOOD NEWS. GOT A CALL FROM THE DOCTORS OFFICE YESTERDAY. MY MEDS WERE APPROVED! THIS NURSE IN THE OFFICE ADMITTED THAT THEIR WERE A FEW SCREW-UPS AND A LOT OF MY TEST RESULTS WERE NOT SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL BY ONE OF THE OTHER NURSES IN THE OFFICE, WHO CONVENIENTLY JUST RESIGNED (FIRED). ITS FUNNY, BUT THEIR WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HER THAT WAS BUGGING ME THE WHOLE TIME. BUT I FELT I WAS IN TO DEEP TO PULL OUT. ANYWAY, SHOULD BE GETTING MY FIRST DOSE AND OTHER INSTRUCTION IN A WEEK OR LESS. I'LL KEEP EVERYONE POSTED.

MIKE

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #18 on: July 01, 2017, 12:44:57 pm »
Great news, Mike -- thanks for keeping us posted!

Gnatty
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline lporterrn

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,969
  • LucindaPorterRN
    • LucindaPorterRN
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #19 on: July 02, 2017, 02:10:31 pm »
Mike - you gave me the smile for the day. I am so happy for you. Hope to be celebrating with you 12 weeks after you are done.
Lucinda Porter, RN
1988 Contracted HCV
1997 Interferon nonresponder
2003 PEG + ribavirin responder-relapser
2013 Cured (Harvoni + ribavirin clinical trial)
https://www.hepmag.com/blogger/lucindakporter

Offline mikeo52

  • Member
  • Posts: 19
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #20 on: July 03, 2017, 10:51:31 am »
GOT A CALL FROM THE SPECIALTY PHARM. SATURDAY. I CALLED BACK THIS MORNING AND WAS TOLD MY FIRST MONTHS SUPPLY IS BEING DELIVERED TO MY DOCTORS OFFICE. I'LL BE GETTING MY FIRST DOSE ON THURSDAY IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN! WHAT A GREAT 4TH OF JULY PRESENT AND MY 65TH BIRTHDAY IS ON THE 30TH. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

MIKE

Offline dragonslayer

  • Member
  • Posts: 873
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #21 on: July 24, 2017, 01:29:45 pm »
Mike - definitely get help - it's been too long.
As for your question, "is it safe to assume that doctors out there are getting kick-backs for using particular vendors or suppliers for hep c drugs?"
This is prohibited and if they did, they would lose their license. Some docs favor one drug over another because of clinical experience.

Isnt it true that, in general, pharmaceutical salesmen routinely wine and dine doctors, invite them to lavish conventions, pay travel expenses?  And these are just the above the table perks..   The larger gifts are more surreptitious, naturally.   If its 'prohibited', thnn someone must be turning their heads in order not to see this routine behavior.

Mike, a big Congrats!  It's about time.  My approval was delayed too. Not like yours, but  a few  weeks lapsed because even though I received my blood results, doctors office did not... Hardly even see how thats possible, but crap like this is the rule rather than the exception.. Anyway, looks like youre on your way. Best of luck..
« Last Edit: July 24, 2017, 01:31:57 pm by dragonslayer »
Paul

DX 2008
Started Harvoni 11/26/14 for 8 wks
Completed 8 wks Harvoni 01/20/15
EOT RNA Quant result:  Detected 29
7.5 wk post tx: Detected < LLOQ(12)
11 wk post tx: UNDETECTED SVR12
24 wk post tx: UNDETECTED SVR24; AST 26; ALT 22; ALP 73
48 wk post tx: UNDETECTED SVR48; AST 18; ALT 18; ALP 70
GT 1a
vl 2.4mil
2008 bpx: Stage&Grade 0
2013 bpx: Stage&Grade: 0-1
IL28B: TT
likely infected early '70s

Offline gnatcatcher

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,372
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #22 on: July 24, 2017, 02:04:14 pm »
Mike, how's it going? If all went well with the delivery, you started on July 6 and can almost see the finish line already.
9/29/71 transfusions
HCV genotype 1a
7/09/15-9/30/15 Harvoni

Before treatment:
Viral Load 9,490,582
FibroScan 19.5 kPa [F4]
ALT 262
AST 217
ALP 183

Most recent:
VL still UNDETECTED (SVR 102)
FibroScan 7.6 kPa [F1-2]
ALT 15
AST 20
ALP 85

Offline KimInTheForest

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,972
  • Believe in yourself
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #23 on: July 24, 2017, 04:47:47 pm »
Congrats Mike! 'Bout time they gave you your drugs. Good luck to you.

kim
Kim Goldberg (Nanaimo, BC)
1970s: Contracted HCV (genotype 3a)
2015: Cured with Harvoni + ribavirin (12 weeks)
MY STORY: https://pigsquash.wordpress.com/2016/01/28/undetectable-my-hep-c-story/

Offline FutureThinker

  • Member
  • Posts: 711
  • Onward and upward!
Re: Big Pharma & Big Profits: The The Truth Comes Out
« Reply #24 on: August 11, 2017, 07:03:39 pm »
Hey Mikeo52 and congrats on getting your meds!!  I thought I'd just let you know that my insurance co. denied my Harvoni request twice and I had to go to my state insurance board to get them to approve the prescription and MAKE the insurance co pay for it and comply............. so yes, you had to wait too long, but it worked out in the end! Persistence pays off.

Most of us do very well on this drug, I found the time just flew by and I had very few side effects.  I am sure you heard about drinking a lot of water, that really makes a huge difference.

Hope all is going well --- and remember, the future is bright!  FT
Treatment naive
Likely contracted mid-70s
Diagnosed 1a, 2011
F1-2
Harvoni X 12 weeks, completed 5/17/16
Pre-treatment: VL 3 mil, AST 64, ALT 84
4 week labs: VL 30, AST 21, ALT 14
8 week labs: VL UD!!!, AST 22, ALT 16
12 week labs: VL UD, AST 23, ALT 14
2 wk EOT: VL UD
12 wk EOT: VL UD, AST 22, ALT 13 =  SVR 12! Yay! 
Last hep appointment: VL UD, AST 19, ALT 12 = SVR 39! I AM DONE!

 


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