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**grhazelton** · 08-25-2016, 03:24 PM - **1 Like**

With the controversy over Martin Shkreli's 5500% price increase for a legacy anti-parasitic drug, and the enormous price increase in the Epipen I was happy to find a link to a Consumer's Reports article on a "generic" alternative to the Epipen. How to Get the Cheaper EpiPen Alternative - Consumer Reports

My granddaughter Sofia carries the Epipen. I imagine that some Pentax Forums members or their loved ones have severe, possibly life-threatening allergies, so I hope that this info is helpful.

MarkJerling · 08-25-2016, 03:43 PM

Crazy! Here it costs NZ$120! In the UK, it's even cheaper.

**monochrome** · 08-25-2016, 04:15 PM

There's generic corporate profit behavior, and then there is corporate greed. The only response available to the buyer is the alternative the market will eventually provide, such as this alternative source.

**grhazelton** · 08-25-2016, 04:19 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

There's generic corporate profit behavior, and then there is corporate greed. The only response available to the buyer is the alternative the market will eventually provide, such as this alternative source.

"Eventually".... and how many people will die before the alternative is widely available AND publicized? Adam Smith, he of Wealth of Nations, noted that, while the wisdom of the market was at work, someone - government - should assure that people weren't ground to atoms in the mean time.

dansamy · 08-25-2016, 04:46 PM

One of the issues, particularly for parents, is that the epipen is enjoying preferential treatment in the public school system, backed by fda and federal education dollars. That limits parents to being required to purchase the pen at its exorbitant price or school their child in some other fashion.

**gaweidert** · 08-25-2016, 05:05 PM

There appears to be no correlation between the rapid cost of Eippens and the CEO's compensation increasing from $2,900,000 to $19,000,000 over the same time period. A local hospital is putting together kits containing a hypodermic needle and a bottle of epinephrine. Cost is $80.

BREAKING NEWS: The company just announced that it is now giving out $300 coupons to defray the cost. List price is to remain the same.

**boriscleto** · 08-25-2016, 05:38 PM

Originally posted by gaweidert

There appears to be no correlation between the rapid cost of Eippens and the CEO's compensation increasing from $2,900,000 to $19,000,000 over the same time period. A local hospital is putting together kits containing a hypodermic needle and a bottle of epinephrine. Cost is $80.

BREAKING NEWS: The company just announced that it is now giving out $300 coupons to defray the cost. List price is to remain the same.

Of course the cost is still a 300% increase from the 2009 price...And if you don't have insurance you can't get the coupon. Can't get it if you are on Medicare or Medicaid either...

Unregistered User 8 · 08-25-2016, 07:50 PM

Originally posted by grhazelton

Alternative to Epipen

Great information. Thank you very much for posting it.

p38arover · 08-25-2016, 08:14 PM

A twin pack in Australia costs A$38 (US$29, GBP22, 25 Euro). Here it's covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. If one doesn't qualify for the drug, it costs A$100 for a twin pack.

The PBS means my anti-cholesterol statins did cost me A$5.20, ditto for my diabetic medication, but, as we've reached the govt. safety net, our drugs are now free.

MarkJerling · 08-25-2016, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by p38arover

A twin pack in Australia costs A$38 (US$29, GBP22, 25 Euro). Here it's covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Interesting! Here by us it's not funded by Pharmac. But, most prescriptions only cost $15.00 each. For some, as low as $3.00 each.

**Rondec** · 08-26-2016, 03:17 AM

The thing is that epinephrine has been generic for a long time. It is the convenience of the device that epi pen uses that is being sold at an exorbitant price. And I guess the patent on that device goes off patent soon?

We saw this a few years ago when they took meter dose inhalers off the market for albuterol. They were generic and cost maybe 10 dollars for an inhaler. Unfortunately they contained CFCs and when they replaced them with hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhalers the price jumped to 70 or 80 dollars an inhaler. The issue wasn't the medicine which was still really cheap, it was the device to the deliver the medicine.

RoxnDox · 08-26-2016, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by Rondec

The thing is that epinephrine has been generic for a long time. It is the convenience of the device that epi pen uses that is being sold at an exorbitant price. And I guess the patent on that device goes off patent soon?

We saw this a few years ago when they took meter dose inhalers off the market for albuterol. They were generic and cost maybe 10 dollars for an inhaler. Unfortunately they contained CFCs and when they replaced them with hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhalers the price jumped to 70 or 80 dollars an inhaler. The issue wasn't the medicine which was still really cheap, it was the device to the deliver the medicine.

The patents on the Epi-pen, as I understand it, aren't going to expire soon, as they have updated the patents with each incremental improvement. The profit is absolutely on the injector, not the drug itself. For a well-researched essay on the subject, including the way-back-when origin of the device, may I recommend this link - very much non-partisan and pulls no punches about anything...

Jim

**grhazelton** · 08-26-2016, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by RoxnDox

The patents on the Epi-pen, as I understand it, aren't going to expire soon, as they have updated the patents with each incremental improvement. The profit is absolutely on the injector, not the drug itself. For a well-researched essay on the subject, including the way-back-when origin of the device, may I recommend this link - very much non-partisan and pulls no punches about anything...

Jim

Jim, where is the link! As the OP, I have a very personal interest in this whole sordid mess. I find it appalling that the Shreklis of this world and the Epipen mistresses are willing to sacrifice untold innocents for personal gain. What has happened to the concept of Noblisse Oblige, which impelled Andrew Carnegie to spend much of his massive fortune to build libraries throughout the Nation?

RoxnDox · 08-26-2016, 06:42 PM

The link's attached to to the "this link" phrase - it was shorter than pasting the whole thing in...

**grhazelton** · 08-26-2016, 08:37 PM

Oops! Sorry for the confusion.

08-25-2016, 03:24 PM - 1 Like	#1
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Alternative to Epipen With the controversy over Martin Shkreli's 5500% price increase for a legacy anti-parasitic drug, and the enormous price increase in the Epipen I was happy to find a link to a Consumer's Reports article on a "generic" alternative to the Epipen. How to Get the Cheaper EpiPen Alternative - Consumer Reports My granddaughter Sofia carries the Epipen. I imagine that some Pentax Forums members or their loved ones have severe, possibly life-threatening allergies, so I hope that this info is helpful.

08-25-2016, 08:14 PM	#9
p38arover Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Western Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,084	A twin pack in Australia costs A$38 (US$29, GBP22, 25 Euro). Here it's covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. If one doesn't qualify for the drug, it costs A$100 for a twin pack. The PBS means my anti-cholesterol statins did cost me A$5.20, ditto for my diabetic medication, but, as we've reached the govt. safety net, our drugs are now free. Last edited by p38arover; 08-25-2016 at 08:22 PM.

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08-25-2016, 03:43 PM	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,423	Crazy! Here it costs NZ$120! In the UK, it's even cheaper.

08-25-2016, 04:15 PM	#3
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	There's generic corporate profit behavior, and then there is corporate greed. The only response available to the buyer is the alternative the market will eventually provide, such as this alternative source.

08-25-2016, 04:19 PM	#4
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome There's generic corporate profit behavior, and then there is corporate greed. The only response available to the buyer is the alternative the market will eventually provide, such as this alternative source. "Eventually".... and how many people will die before the alternative is widely available AND publicized? Adam Smith, he of Wealth of Nations, noted that, while the wisdom of the market was at work, someone - government - should assure that people weren't ground to atoms in the mean time.

08-25-2016, 04:46 PM	#5
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	One of the issues, particularly for parents, is that the epipen is enjoying preferential treatment in the public school system, backed by fda and federal education dollars. That limits parents to being required to purchase the pen at its exorbitant price or school their child in some other fashion.

08-25-2016, 05:05 PM	#6
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,327	There appears to be no correlation between the rapid cost of Eippens and the CEO's compensation increasing from $2,900,000 to $19,000,000 over the same time period. A local hospital is putting together kits containing a hypodermic needle and a bottle of epinephrine. Cost is $80. BREAKING NEWS: The company just announced that it is now giving out $300 coupons to defray the cost. List price is to remain the same.

08-25-2016, 05:38 PM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Originally posted by gaweidert There appears to be no correlation between the rapid cost of Eippens and the CEO's compensation increasing from $2,900,000 to $19,000,000 over the same time period. A local hospital is putting together kits containing a hypodermic needle and a bottle of epinephrine. Cost is $80. BREAKING NEWS: The company just announced that it is now giving out $300 coupons to defray the cost. List price is to remain the same. Of course the cost is still a 300% increase from the 2009 price...And if you don't have insurance you can't get the coupon. Can't get it if you are on Medicare or Medicaid either...

08-25-2016, 07:50 PM	#8
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by grhazelton Alternative to Epipen Great information. Thank you very much for posting it.

08-25-2016, 09:06 PM	#10
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,423	Originally posted by p38arover A twin pack in Australia costs A$38 (US$29, GBP22, 25 Euro). Here it's covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Interesting! Here by us it's not funded by Pharmac. But, most prescriptions only cost $15.00 each. For some, as low as $3.00 each.

08-26-2016, 03:17 AM	#11
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,668	The thing is that epinephrine has been generic for a long time. It is the convenience of the device that epi pen uses that is being sold at an exorbitant price. And I guess the patent on that device goes off patent soon? We saw this a few years ago when they took meter dose inhalers off the market for albuterol. They were generic and cost maybe 10 dollars for an inhaler. Unfortunately they contained CFCs and when they replaced them with hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhalers the price jumped to 70 or 80 dollars an inhaler. The issue wasn't the medicine which was still really cheap, it was the device to the deliver the medicine.

08-26-2016, 03:06 PM	#12
RoxnDox Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,494	Originally posted by Rondec The thing is that epinephrine has been generic for a long time. It is the convenience of the device that epi pen uses that is being sold at an exorbitant price. And I guess the patent on that device goes off patent soon? We saw this a few years ago when they took meter dose inhalers off the market for albuterol. They were generic and cost maybe 10 dollars for an inhaler. Unfortunately they contained CFCs and when they replaced them with hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhalers the price jumped to 70 or 80 dollars an inhaler. The issue wasn't the medicine which was still really cheap, it was the device to the deliver the medicine. The patents on the Epi-pen, as I understand it, aren't going to expire soon, as they have updated the patents with each incremental improvement. The profit is absolutely on the injector, not the drug itself. For a well-researched essay on the subject, including the way-back-when origin of the device, may I recommend this link - very much non-partisan and pulls no punches about anything... Jim

08-26-2016, 04:17 PM	#13
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Originally posted by RoxnDox The patents on the Epi-pen, as I understand it, aren't going to expire soon, as they have updated the patents with each incremental improvement. The profit is absolutely on the injector, not the drug itself. For a well-researched essay on the subject, including the way-back-when origin of the device, may I recommend this link - very much non-partisan and pulls no punches about anything... Jim Jim, where is the link! As the OP, I have a very personal interest in this whole sordid mess. I find it appalling that the Shreklis of this world and the Epipen mistresses are willing to sacrifice untold innocents for personal gain. What has happened to the concept of Noblisse Oblige, which impelled Andrew Carnegie to spend much of his massive fortune to build libraries throughout the Nation?

08-26-2016, 06:42 PM	#14
RoxnDox Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,494	The link's attached to to the "this link" phrase - it was shorter than pasting the whole thing in...

08-26-2016, 08:37 PM	#15
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972 Original Poster	Oops! Sorry for the confusion.