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Related: About this forumThis Life-Saving Drug Just Went From $0 to $375,000
Published on Feb 4, 2019
For two decades, LEMS patients have received a drug for free from Jacobus Pharmaceutical under the Food and Drug Administrations compassionate use program. Recently, Catalyst Parmaceuticals bought the drug and announced to investors it would set the list price at $375,000 per year. Rebecca, one of the many patients who does not know how she will afford it, talked to Sen. Bernie Sanders about what's going on.
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In a letter sent Monday to the CEO of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) demanded the company explain its decision to set the price of Firdapse, a drug used to treat a rare neuromuscular disease called Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS), at $375,000 per year.
For two decades, patients have received the same drug known as 3,4-DAP for free from Jacobus Pharmaceutical under the Food and Drug Administrations compassionate use program. Recently, Catalyst licensed the rights to the drug and received exclusive rights to market Firdapse for seven years under the FDAs orphan drug designation. In December 2018, Catalyst announced to investors it would set the list price for Firdapse at $375,000 per year.
As a result, patients around the country are frightened as to whether or not they will be able to maintain access to a drug they depend upon to survive.
Last week, Sanders spoke via Skype with one of those patients, Rebecca Hovde of Wellman, Iowa, who told him about the incredible anxiety people with LEMS are living with as a result of Catalysts decision to increase the price. I have friends saying that its too much. They know they cant afford it. And theyre just going to go to bed when their 3,4 DAP runs out, Hovde told Sanders. (Watch the full conversation here.)
In response to the concerns raised by Hovde and other patients, Sanders asked the CEO of Catalyst how many patients will suffer or die due to their decision to set such an outrageous price, calling that decision not only a blatant fleecing of American taxpayers, but...also an immoral exploitation of patients who need this medication.
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This Life-Saving Drug Just Went From $0 to $375,000 (Original Post)
Donkees
Feb 2019
OP
amcgrath
(397 posts)1. The excuse drug companies use for pricing
is invariably research ( although they spend as much or more on advertising).
There is no research involved in buying somebody else's patent
tomhagen
(3,604 posts)2. If you doubt the country is run by drug pushers; just watch 10 minutes of evening ads
From Xeljanz to Chantix ; ask your doctor if the fatal reactions are right for you
Doreen
(11,686 posts)3. the Orange piece of dripping shit said he was personally going
to make sure drug prices go down. Yeah, right. I have been wondering when my epilepsy meds will go up. I have to take them in order to legally drive. well, at this time in my life I have no choice but to drive so if I can't afford my meds I will continue to drive.