FDA approves nonprescription Prilosec version

The Tennessean ^ | 6/21/03 | Lauren Neergaard

[GailA]

WASHINGTON

[GailA]

FYI

[Tennessee_Bob]

Oh, good - one more medication that won't be covered by insurance. One more medication that we won't have to run through prior-authorization, one more thing to listen to people complain about. Wonder if it's going to be the 20mg strength, since that's the one that went generic a few months back?

[Living Free in NH]

Limbaugh was just ranting about this. He's such an out of touch moron and I think I'm done listening to him. He seems to think that if an insurance company covers the cost of a prescription, people who use it are freeloaders. I pay over $100/month for my medical insurance, so nothing is free for me.

But he's the first piece of crap to start whining when a gov't agency decides to increase or add a fee for whatever service they may be providing. And why??? Because he doesn't own any stock in the gov't but probably does own pharmaceutical stocks. Yeah, I know some of you will say that we ALL own stock in the gov't - yeah, right.

The next time Limbaugh calls 911 when his palace is on fire, I hope they ask him for some credit card information to cover the cost of the firefighting tab. Otherwise, he's freeloading at the expense of all us taxpayers!!!

Now the previously fat bastard is saying that people need the drug because they enjoy too may adult beverages. I hope he has a stroke!!!

[PA Engineer]

I agree with you. I am on Prilosec for life because of Reflux disease. Now instead of month-to-month I can stock-up in bulk. I am tired of the insurance two step for authorization. Then again the big bust for insurance companies is the reflux and allergy prescription utilization costs. Rush is right on this one. Now that Prilosec sales have recovered the development costs everyone can benefit from the OTC price reductions.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Now instead of month-to-month I can stock-up in bulk

Do you have mail service available through your PBM? What's your current copay for Prilosec?

Now that Prilosec sales have recovered the development costs everyone can benefit from the OTC price reductions.

Strange thing, that - they're not interested in that - they're interested in continued profits. When Claritin when OTC earlier this year, the cost wasn't reduced. OTC cost was approximately the same as it was for RX cost. And as far as them recovering the R&D costs, Prilosec was first approved on September 14, 1989. They've had 14 years to recover their costs. Given the current average wholesale price of the med, and the current contract costs of the med, I'd say they did that a long time ago.

[PA Engineer]

"Given the current average wholesale price of the med, and the current contract costs of the med, I'd say they did that a long time ago."

Actually, current costs for a single FDA approval are averaging about 250 million USD. I do not know what the cost was in the late 80s. Current and past costs (including OTC FDA processing) would require a significant long-term amortization.

Here is a long study I posted that presents a real conservative solution to the FDA and the government impact on the price of drugs. It is very long, but well worth the read. Everyone wants to blame the drug companies (very liberal) for the cost of medicine and yet few look to the real reasons why costs are so high. This study I believe provides other options.

Making Drugs Safe and Available without the FDA

[Tennessee_Bob]

Tell you what. If I remember, I'll try to bring home the current Average Wholesale Price or AWP for Prilosec tomorrow. If you have any others you'd like to know about, let me know, and I'll track them down. Give me the name and strength, and I'll get it for you.