Big Pharma at it again - Page 4

winamac1 · ‎12-29-2010

@JillyMarie wrote:
@3suwm5 wrote:
@JillyMarie wrote:
Research for meds that few could afford would be pointless.
Rarely do companies decide on the research topic. That is chosen for them.

We get a list of topics to bid. The research we do - is to find a better, cheaper, faster. It's usually a tall order and RARELY successful. When that research has completed and the $$ are all gone, we have nothing. That's when profits from other 'winners' kick in. Our research subjects are chosen due to problems with the other options of that subject failing, not producible or cost prohibitive to make.

I can tell you that our yearly expenses always outweigh the profits, and that's without any payroll.

Companies have to have incentives to bid on a project, because the % of failure is high. There are many things we don't bid because we know, after 30+ years in the business, it can't be done. Especially, given the $$ for the research.

If you don't look at the casualties of the research, you can probably find someone to build better, cheaper, faster. Based on our experience, that is almost impossible.

I'm just suggesting that one should know all the requirements of the company before deciding if they are right or wrong. Maybe they are wrong, I don't know.
Is it safe to assume you work for big pharma?

Big pharma is not the "bad guy". Most do not pay for drugs. They have many free drug programs. Patients need to check them out. Go on the drug company websites. Also...google is your friend!

"friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel"

3suwm5 · ‎06-15-2016

@winamac1 wrote:
First of all...I call on Dermatologists

Secondly, I have eczema and atopic dermatis!

I've never heard of this drug, and I don't think I've heard of this Company.

and, without big pharma....we'd not have the drugs that save lives.

I assure you....people who need these expensive medications, get drugs for FREE.

Medicaid patients get the biologic I "promote" that costs $3800 a month for FREE.

Insurance patient with copay cards pay $10

Medicare, up to 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, get the product I promote for FREE.

People have to take responsiblity and check these drug-co. programs out! I deal with this DAILY.

Patients need to make the attempt and effort to get screened either for "extra help/low-income subsidy" or free drug foundation programs. They NEED to call back and give financials and often times these expensive drugs are FREE!!

I'm not buying it...

Thank you Winamac, you said it so much better than I. lol Next time I'm going to refer everyone to you.haha

I don't know anything about Big Pharma or any kind of Pharma. I just know a bit about our research, it's not profitable and it's not sexy. My DH loves it and works at it, even without pay. I know people don't believe that, but I also know it's true, just saying.

winamac1 · ‎12-29-2010

@3suwm5 wrote:
@winamac1 wrote:
First of all...I call on Dermatologists

Secondly, I have eczema and atopic dermatis!

I've never heard of this drug, and I don't think I've heard of this Company.

and, without big pharma....we'd not have the drugs that save lives.

I assure you....people who need these expensive medications, get drugs for FREE.

Medicaid patients get the biologic I "promote" that costs $3800 a month for FREE.

Insurance patient with copay cards pay $10

Medicare, up to 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, get the product I promote for FREE.

People have to take responsiblity and check these drug-co. programs out! I deal with this DAILY.

Patients need to make the attempt and effort to get screened either for "extra help/low-income subsidy" or free drug foundation programs. They NEED to call back and give financials and often times these expensive drugs are FREE!!

I'm not buying it...
Thank you Winamac, you said it so much better than I. lol Next time I'm going to refer everyone to you.haha

I don't know anything about Big Pharma or any kind of Pharma. I just know a bit about our research, it's not profitable and it's not sexy. My DH loves it and works at it, even without pay. I know people don't believe that, but I also know it's true, just saying.

As far as the biologic that I "sell" , my Company gives free drug to those who make 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. It's a lot of money. $60,000 family of 1...$80,000 family of 2--FREE DRUG for uninsured, underinsured or Medicare Part D.

VERY GENEROUS!

CALL THE COMPANIES!

"friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel"

Blahblahvampemer · ‎08-31-2010

@millieshops wrote:
It makes little sense. But so many things don't make sense to me.

Why is it we think little of paying a Hollywood actor or a professional football player millions and millions, but we pay scientists and doctors who work quietly in the background developingpotentially life-saving devices and meds pretty ordinary incomes?

We seem to be happy paying a pre-school teacher we trust with our children a minimum wage while we pay a fashion designer princely sums.

I know some of the reasons, but sometimes I think our values are not anywhere near where we say they are - not in a society where money is definitely the biggest indicator of value.

Actors and athletes make so much because they have a specialized talent, and with most, the earning period is very short. If you do something that generates untold millions, you should get a decent share.

Read it! New England Journal of Medicine—May 21, 2020
Universal Masking in Hospitals in the Covid-19 Era

“We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection.

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@3suwm5 wrote:
@itiswhatitis wrote:
@3suwm5 wrote:
All are examples of the free market. If people didn't pay outrageous amounts for a football game, the athletes wouldn't get those kind of salaries. MO

Research, drug approval or NOT, maybe more research, more cost for research, maybe drug approval, start to market and consumer purchase.MO

Research, in our personal experience at our own lab (not medical) is VERY expensive. Costs add up quickly and just because there may be a profit this year, doesn't mean the entire profit will be available next year. It might be spent the first month of the new year on equipment and/or supplies. People don't realize what goes on in research. I didn't until I started taking care of our books. I see it with my own eyes. MO

Anyone having personal knowledge of research $$$ in and out, I'd love to hear your take on it.
I don't have any personal experience with R&D, but I know corporations get tax breaks for every product existing that has been improved, re-packaged or used as off lablel. Those tax breaks are YUGE, LOL. Then there's the "value added tax." I understand what your'e saying @3suwm5, but these companies are not running on empty all the time and they can stop these outrageous price gouging.
Our company gets tax breaks for certain pieces of equipment we have or need to purchase for the job, for us it is not huge, just a small percentage of the value of the equipment. That value is not decided by us, we are told the value. It's also based on the research topics we choose. In terms of the value added tax, I don't know the particulars.

It's complicated, that's why we pay a fortune for our accountant.lol The last audit we had, they were down our throats for a $3.00 charge, we couldn't find. I'm not kidding.

We don't do research for the general public, per se. We don't make a better 'paper clip' so to speak. For us, we can be one equipment failure from bankruptcy.

Believe me, I'm not happy with the cost of many things myself. I do believe there is plenty of gouging.

I still want the free market and definitely want research to continue.

@3suwm5. Yes it is. If your company is a large international conglomerate (which is what I speak of) in 200 countries around the world, then it's even more complicated.

I used to work with Attorneys who used to do the Corporate Tax Return for Submission in September and part of that was the R&D tax credit. This is a large consumer products company. State and local taxes were another thing for this Delaware incorporated company. Value Added (VAT) tax they got that too. Big breaks for R&D especially for the company I worked for because of the many products they make that qualify for it.

*Call Tyrone*

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@winamac1 wrote:
@JillyMarie wrote:
@3suwm5 wrote:
@JillyMarie wrote:
Research for meds that few could afford would be pointless.
Rarely do companies decide on the research topic. That is chosen for them.

We get a list of topics to bid. The research we do - is to find a better, cheaper, faster. It's usually a tall order and RARELY successful. When that research has completed and the $$ are all gone, we have nothing. That's when profits from other 'winners' kick in. Our research subjects are chosen due to problems with the other options of that subject failing, not producible or cost prohibitive to make.

I can tell you that our yearly expenses always outweigh the profits, and that's without any payroll.

Companies have to have incentives to bid on a project, because the % of failure is high. There are many things we don't bid because we know, after 30+ years in the business, it can't be done. Especially, given the $$ for the research.

If you don't look at the casualties of the research, you can probably find someone to build better, cheaper, faster. Based on our experience, that is almost impossible.

I'm just suggesting that one should know all the requirements of the company before deciding if they are right or wrong. Maybe they are wrong, I don't know.
Is it safe to assume you work for big pharma?
Big pharma is not the "bad guy". Most do not pay for drugs. They have many free drug programs. Patients need to check them out. Go on the drug company websites. Also...google is your friend!

@winamac1 This still does not address the problem for the middle class. There's nothing worse than being a middle income person living in a high cost of living State. Those with the least amongst us get help. Those with higher incomes (top 25%, - the 1%) don't need the help.

Middle Income Families are the ones who lose out. Plenty for the poor (Medicaid) where is the break for middle income workers? By Middle Income I mean a family of four with a combined income of $50-75,000 per annum. How the heck can they afford these out of pocket prices for drugs? They can't. Depending on your geographic location in the country it's even harder. No one is giving any of them anything for free.

*Call Tyrone*

JillyMarie · ‎03-29-2015

Wow. This is great news. Free drugs -- just call the pharms and you are good to go. I will take personal responsibiity. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again @winamac1

“All you have to do, I tell myself, is keep your mouth shut and look stupid. It shouldn't be that hard.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@winamac1 wrote:
@3suwm5 wrote:
@winamac1 wrote:
First of all...I call on Dermatologists

Secondly, I have eczema and atopic dermatis!

I've never heard of this drug, and I don't think I've heard of this Company.

and, without big pharma....we'd not have the drugs that save lives.

I assure you....people who need these expensive medications, get drugs for FREE.

Medicaid patients get the biologic I "promote" that costs $3800 a month for FREE.

Insurance patient with copay cards pay $10

Medicare, up to 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, get the product I promote for FREE.

People have to take responsiblity and check these drug-co. programs out! I deal with this DAILY.

Patients need to make the attempt and effort to get screened either for "extra help/low-income subsidy" or free drug foundation programs. They NEED to call back and give financials and often times these expensive drugs are FREE!!

I'm not buying it...
Thank you Winamac, you said it so much better than I. lol Next time I'm going to refer everyone to you.haha

I don't know anything about Big Pharma or any kind of Pharma. I just know a bit about our research, it's not profitable and it's not sexy. My DH loves it and works at it, even without pay. I know people don't believe that, but I also know it's true, just saying.
As far as the biologic that I "sell" , my Company gives free drug to those who make 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. It's a lot of money. $60,000 family of 1...$80,000 family of 2--FREE DRUG for uninsured, underinsured or Medicare Part D.

VERY GENEROUS!

CALL THE COMPANIES!

Thank you for this @winamac1, I truly appreciate it. I take a compound HB medication and each time I argue with my doctor to find a generic which he says it is but it never works out that way. I have gotten to the point to just stop taking it as now that I no longer have family pressures on me I think my BP may not be as much of a risk.

Thank you again for the heads up!

itiswhatitis · ‎05-27-2016

@newagain888888 wrote:
More and more the average middle-class working citizen is being squeezed so that what used to be considered a basic is now a luxury. Like meds. Recently, there have been articles from esteemedd physicians noting that our healthcare system system has turned upside down in that (for the first time in our history) the very wealthy and very low income families have regular healthcare coverage while the middle class is commonly foregoing care due to higher deductibles and increases in overall care and medicines.

I know this is true in my own family. My husband's company no longer provides affordable health insurance. The cost we bear for our health insurance premiums and then the very high deductibles mean that we keep the insurance for life and death emergencies only. We use our local drugstore's Minute Clinic and pay out of pocket for those visits and everything else. Meds are the biggest problem. A formerly affordable prescription cream for dermatitis cost $625 under my husband's plan and a common antibiotic (generic) is $420. Our prescription costs cannot be applied toward the deductible, which is several thousand dollars per year.

Pharmaceutical prices are set for what the market will bear. The very same medicines that are costly, even exorbitant in our own country are a tiny fraction of that cost in other countries. These are the same drugs manufactured and licensed by our own pharmaceutical companies. It is a complex issue with social, political, and financial considerations: one with no easy answers. However, I agree with comments made by the medical establishment. When our working class no longer has manageable access to regular healthcare, what will this mean for our future economy since they carry the majority of the tax burden.

Very well stated @newagain888888. Complex.

*Call Tyrone*