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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
        
(Message started by: Pinkfloyd on Feb 7^th, 2006, 12:27am)

Title: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Pinkfloyd on Feb 7^th, 2006, 12:27am

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8FH2URO4.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db

GSK gets FDA OK for new Imitrex dose

FEB. 2 11:12 A.M. ET Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Thursday that
the Food and Drug Administration approved a lower dose formulation of
migraine treatment Imitrex that can be administered with an injector
pen.

The new formulation allows migraine patients to use the Statdose
System injector pen to administer a 4 milligram dose of Imitrex.
Previously, the lowest dose approved for the Statdose was 6
milligrams.

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 7^th, 2006, 1:38pm

Shall we start a pool?

When will they reduce the price by 1/3?

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Gator on Feb 7^th, 2006, 4:21pm

on 02/07/06 at 13:38:19, Bob_Johnson wrote:

Shall we start a pool?

When will they reduce the price by 1/3?

I'll take the 12th of never.

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by chewy on Feb 7^th, 2006, 6:13pm

On the 8th day of the 53rd week of the year.

Or 1 day before Armegeddon. Which ever comes first.

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Pinkfloyd on Feb 7^th, 2006, 6:32pm

on 02/07/06 at 13:38:19, Bob_Johnson wrote:

When will they reduce the price by 1/3?

They may be forced to drop prices a bit. This is more a move to protect their patent rights on injectable sumatriptan than anything else, IMHO.
The FDA has already given tentative approval and assigned NDA #s to both Cobalt and Ranbaxy for generic sumatriptan tablets. Look for them to be on the market this year.
The injectables aren't far behind. Glaxo will have to compete with cheaper tablets. Cluster people will have to fight even harder to get approval for injectables vs. cheap tablets, with their insurance companies. Glaxo will now be in a better position to compete with cheaper tabs by offering the 4mg pens at a lower price.
But, if it's not 33% cheaper, then cluster people will end up paying more per shot for the 4mg pens, if they get 3 shots out of a statdose pen.
When we see pricing on the 4mg pen, you'll be able to figure out what they'll end up charging for the 2mg dose, if they ever produce it.

It may also help Glaxo by people being able to use more shots/pills per day. Some migrainers mix pills and shots and use up to a certain mg total. This might allow them to take (purchase) an extra few pills per month.

OTOH, it will be good for many people health-wise by putting less sumatriptan into their systems, if the 4mg dose works as well as the 6mg dose.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b392/psiloscribe/spiderweb.jpg
J/K, I know its a life saver for many here.

Get your Imichex ready.
Bobw

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 7^th, 2006, 6:43pm

on 02/07/06 at 18:32:43, Pinkfloyd wrote:

But, if it's not 33% cheaper, then cluster people will end up paying more per shot for the 4mg pens, if they get 3 shots out of a statdose pen.

I was wondering this too. If someone was once getting, say twelve 6mg shots a month, more future new scripts might then be written for twelve 4mg shots per month intstead. :-/

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Pinkfloyd on Feb 7^th, 2006, 6:58pm

on 02/07/06 at 18:43:42, Kevin_M wrote:

I was wondering this too. If someone was once getting, say twelve 6mg shots a month, more future new scripts might then be written for twelve 4mg shots per month intstead. :-/

Well, you can bet they'll try proving that 4mg dose is as effective. When the insurance co's have that info in hand, and a cheaper product, I imagine that may be the case. I imagine your doc could still script a 6mg dose but I wonder how long the 6mg dose will be around. If the 4mg dose works as well for migrainers as the 6mg, the market for the 6's will shrink to cluster sufferers. The prices on the 6s will then most likely go up.(less demand)
When the patents are up on the injectables, who knows where the competition will go. Will they go for the 6mg, the 4mg or try to be the first with a 2mg. Time will tell.

Bobw

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by vig on Feb 7^th, 2006, 7:12pm

It seems to me that pharmaceutical economics has little to do with supply and demand or the free market.

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by Dragnlance on Feb 8^th, 2006, 11:49am

Quote:

It seems to me that pharmaceutical economics has little to do with supply and demand or the free market.

Screw the public for as much as they can (idea stolen from energy companies) is thier motto.

I guess I wont have to worry about it as I am one of those that Immetrex doesnt work for at all. Sugar pills do as much as this stuff, for me. :-/

Dragnlance

Title: Re: 4 mg Imitrex OK'd
Post by thebbz on Feb 9^th, 2006, 11:06pm

:D "And the corporations are sitting there being all corporationy. Bottom line for the executive board. Profits and not small profits. Bonuses, and not small ones either.
Thanks for being on the ball with the info Bob. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
jb