Comments on: Diabetes Meds Now Drive Rx Spending: Report http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/ News, Comment and Conversation Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:12:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Atlex http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/#comment-356865 Atlex Thu, 15 May 2008 23:54:29 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13644#comment-356865 IMS data, which is based on retail sales, tends to overstate sales since it doesn't account for rebates to PBMs and health plans. Overall, rebates have been increasing in key drug classes (eg, statins), thus the growth rate is likely overstated. IMS data, which is based on retail sales, tends to overstate sales since it doesn’t account for rebates to PBMs and health plans. Overall, rebates have been increasing in key drug classes (eg, statins), thus the growth rate is likely overstated.

]]> By: Greg http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/#comment-356857 Greg Thu, 15 May 2008 22:50:02 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13644#comment-356857 According to IMS Health (a market research firm) sales grew 6.4 % (to 712 bln)in 2007 compared with a 7% growth in 2K6. These numbers really hit the theme of this articles home. The shift to using more expensive drugs is probably going to continue based on the projected oncology market. According to IMS Health (a market research firm) sales grew 6.4 % (to 712 bln)in 2007 compared with a 7% growth in 2K6. These numbers really hit the theme of this articles home. The shift to using more expensive drugs is probably going to continue based on the projected oncology market.

]]> By: Ed Silverman http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/#comment-356830 Ed Silverman Thu, 15 May 2008 19:10:47 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13644#comment-356830 Hi Mel, I've included a link to the chart pictured above. Just go to 'Here's the link to the chart to the left' in the second graph. Sorry for the ineligible chart. Looks like we can't click on the chart to enlargen it and I didn't realize that. Regards ed Hi Mel,

I’ve included a link to the chart pictured above. Just go to ‘Here’s the link to the chart to the left’ in the second graph. Sorry for the ineligible chart. Looks like we can’t click on the chart to enlargen it and I didn’t realize that.

Regards
ed

]]> By: mel http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/#comment-356829 mel Thu, 15 May 2008 18:51:56 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13644#comment-356829 Does anyone have a copy of the above table or an http location - I would like to see the other categories, but the table is nearly illegible, and the thumbnail doesn't have a link. Thanks in advance! Does anyone have a copy of the above table or an http location - I would like to see the other categories, but the table is nearly illegible, and the thumbnail doesn’t have a link.

Thanks in advance!

]]> By: Melody http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/#comment-356826 Melody Thu, 15 May 2008 17:45:41 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13644#comment-356826 And this is just for diabetes meds. If analysts looked at diabetes treatment tools (strips, monitors, foods, etc) and co-prescribing (statins, hypertension meds, and mood drugs) SOMEONE--ANYONE--might be astonished at how significantly treating this disease impacts escalating healthcare costs. Obviously free-market and free-choice no longer exists for U.S. diabetics. Those who need/require natural (animal) sourced insulins must acquire product from outside the U.S.--assuming they have the money to do so. One of the specious arguments used to promote/market the first rDNA insulins was that costs would be lowered. NOT! And this is just for diabetes meds. If analysts looked at diabetes treatment tools (strips, monitors, foods, etc) and co-prescribing (statins, hypertension meds, and mood drugs) SOMEONE–ANYONE–might be astonished at how significantly treating this disease impacts escalating healthcare costs.

Obviously free-market and free-choice no longer exists for U.S. diabetics. Those who need/require natural (animal) sourced insulins must acquire product from outside the U.S.–assuming they have the money to do so. One of the specious arguments used to promote/market the first rDNA insulins was that costs would be lowered. NOT!

]]> By: Scott http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/05/diabetes-meds-now-drive-rx-spending-report/#comment-356802 Scott Thu, 15 May 2008 13:45:22 +0000 http://www.pharmalot.com/?p=13644#comment-356802 The bigger question is where all this free-market analysis which supposedly makes the U.S. more efficient than all those single-payer systems in Europe? Of course, that would be an incorrect assumption. The use of diabetes drugs increased only 2.3% last year, but spending rose 12%. The big driver was the introduction of new, expensive medicines that replace or are added to older, cheaper ones. Notably, more expensive insulin analogs such as Novolog was cited, and yet this has not led to improved glycemic control ... where is the free-market analysis of this trend, one has to wonder? The bigger question is where all this free-market analysis which supposedly makes the U.S. more efficient than all those single-payer systems in Europe? Of course, that would be an incorrect assumption. The use of diabetes drugs increased only 2.3% last year, but spending rose 12%. The big driver was the introduction of new, expensive medicines that replace or are added to older, cheaper ones. Notably, more expensive insulin analogs such as Novolog was cited, and yet this has not led to improved glycemic control … where is the free-market analysis of this trend, one has to wonder?

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