From: lars@beagle-ears.com
Lars Poulsen wrote:
>>Zepbound has been a revelation for me. I pay USD 500/month direct from
>>EliLilly with monthly monitoring appointments with my doctor.
On 2025-12-20, chrisv wrote:
> Hidiosly expensive drugs, that we all now have to pay for. And they
> must be taken for life! As if medical insurance wasn't costly enough
> already!
As noted in the par you snipped, the US list price for Ozempic, Zepbound
etc is about USD 1000/month, although that price is set artificially
high to allow the intermediaries (Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Insurance
Companies and pharmacies) a profit. The "Pharma Direct" price of
USD 500/month is closer to what the Pharma companies area actually getting.
With competent negotiation, European health services pay closer to
USD 175 (EUR 150?) per month. It appears that most of the manufacturing
actually takes place in China, and if we could trust the Chinese
manufacturers' quality control, it could easily be sold for about $(or
EUR) 50/month.
Much of the distribution cost is related to the fact that it is
formulated as an injectable. Sometime in 2026, new formulations that can
be taken in pill form are scheduled to hit the market. This *should*
briing the cost down significantly. In addition, these are expected to
be even more effective.
It is too early to know if it really is "for life". It is possible that
after the drug has changed the patients' experience and attitude to
food, the dose can be ramped down or phased out. We simply do not yet
have the clinical experience to know.
And this "for life" aspect is similar to some psychoactive drugs,
including commonly dispensed anti-depressants.
--
Lars Poulsen - an old geek in Santa Barbara, California
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)
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