The Higher Cost of Breathing (More Stupidity by Regulators)

The New York Times ^ | 05/12/06 | Andrew Pollock

[motorcity70]

An environmental effort to protect the earth's ozone layer could mean disruptions for the nation's millions of asthma patients.

A federally mandated shift to a more ozone-friendly version of the hand-held inhalers used to quell asthma attacks is creating spot shortages of the devices, because production of the older versions has declined even before producers of the new inhalers ramp up fully. The shift is also giving a few drug makers the rare chance to introduce brand-name medicine into a market long dominated by low-cost generics.

The drug at issue is albuterol, the leading prescription treatment used to open constricted airways during an asthma attack. Because the new inhalers are covered by patents, they are commanding high prices — $30 to $60 each, including the drug inside, compared with as little as $5 to $25 for the older generic versions.

By the end of 2008, which is the federal deadline for phasing out albuterol inhalers that use an ozone-depleting propellant gas, the nation's annual cost for these inhalers could be $1 billion higher than now. The main beneficiaries would be Schering-Plough, GlaxoSmithKline and other drug makers whose asthma inhalers are protected by patents that in some cases extend to 2017.

[motorcity70]

So asthma sufferers get to pay a lot more to stop a minute amount of CFC's from allegedly harming the ozone layer. This is as bad a decision as the one reached by an FDA advisory panel to ban Primatene Mist for the same reason. That's the only treatment available to hundreds of thousands of asthma sufferers who don't have health insurance. I wish these clowns would get real!

[GeronL]

and when we are forced to stop using gasoline the Earth will get warmer too because the pollution will no longer divert atiny bit of the suns heat.

Of course we're warming up anyways because we are exiting an ice age

[BudgieRamone]

This has already been affecting me. I have to request the "non politically correct" inhaler when I refill it. Its a $22.00 difference.

JM2B

[mo]

http://heritage.dupont.com/touchpoints/tp_1930-3/depth.shtml.......Dupont Chemical showed the drug companies how to do it....why should'nt they?...Naaaah...PATENT ISSUES would'nt ever corrupt the PURE GREEN DEBATE , now would they?!!!!

[mo]

http://heritage.dupont.com/touchpoints/tp_1930-3/depth.shtml

[longtermmemmory]

I am surprised the environwackos have not passed a breathing tax for everyone.

"an air tax" for the blessing of environwako laws.

[therut]

I just want my hairspray back in the old form. This is one of the most stupid things that has every occured.