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"In the midst of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."

- Alert Camus








Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Fampyra is Expensive is the bad news

INFO ON 4AP - CareCure Forums


In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life:
it goes on.

—Robert Frost

“I'm not young enough to know everything.”
J.M. Barrie, The Admirable Crichton



Not so long ago, I wrote a note about the "NEW" M.S. drug that was approved in Canada recently.  It is called Fampyra and held out lots of promise for the major weakness most people with MS suffer from - walking.
 Talking to the M.S. Clinic today, they told me the drug cost will run $30 to $40 thousand a year and is not covered by most insurance plans. 
Lots of promise gives the pharmaceutical companies an opportunity to gouge the sick one more time.  Quick recovery of their R&D Costs might be a friendlier way to say it.  Depending which side of the argument you are on...

The interesting thing is there is the same drug available in a twice a day version versus the new slow-release version.  It goes by a different name - 4 amino pyradine and it is covered.  
One ingredient in the drug formulation is in short supply so this drug is not available before July. There is no hurry because the pharmas can't gouge with this formulation... inner workings of the pharmaceutical industry do not take the patients' needs as more important than obscene profiteering...LOL

Its not quite back to the drawing board but I'd sure like to be able to try it out today.  Not July or later depending how the supply of 4AP goes in my small Canadian town.  Theses nare the trials and tribulations of living with a chronic progressive disease with no cure and no effective treatment------------- so far.









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