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Post by od on Jan 9, 2015 9:56:38 GMT -5
It may be a placeholder but...The Prescription Benefit Administrator, Free For All, lists Afrezza pricing at www.rxcut.com/en/PharmacySearch.htmlPrices listed for brand medicatins are usually 10 - 15% less than retail pharmacy cash price. Again, I cannot vouch for price accuracy.
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Post by otherottawaguy on Jan 9, 2015 10:05:34 GMT -5
Did some playing around and this is what I got for 90 dosages (1 Month) which seems to equate to about $3500/year.
Total cost for all medications: $285.54 Medication Description Type Quantity Price AFREZZA POW 4& 8UNIT 90 EA BOX Brand 90 $285.54
Disclaimer: Medication prices are updated weekly and may vary at time of purchase. Time release medications and varying package sizes will change prices significantly. To receive accurate medication pricing be sure to select the identical product. To confirm the exact medication costs please contact the pharmacy directly.
DOWNTOWN PHARMACY 19 BEEKMAN STREET HOSPITAL LOBBY NEW YORK, NY 10038 Phone: (212) 587-5252 Distance: 0.16 Miles Total cost for all medications: $285.54
XPRESS LANE PHARMACY 99 NASSAU ST #111 NEW YORK, NY 10038 Phone: (212) 962-4900 Distance: 0.17 Miles Total cost for all medications: $285.54
DOWNTOWN PHARMACY 165 WILLIAM ST NEW YORK, NY 10038 Phone: (212) 233-0333 Distance: 0.18 Miles Total cost for all medications: $285.54
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Post by in search of the truth on Jan 9, 2015 10:20:20 GMT -5
How does this compare to a comparable supply of teh injectable pens? Humalog or novalog?
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Post by otherottawaguy on Jan 9, 2015 10:30:13 GMT -5
Thought the pens were priced at around 3K annually (corrections welcome). Not sure if this included the additionally required hardware. If Dr Mann is correct about the lower requirement for testing, then we might still be in the same ballpark as other premium (pens) products.
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Post by factspls88 on Jan 9, 2015 10:39:51 GMT -5
I put in an Upper East Side (NYC) zip code and Afrezza is listed at all major pharmacies in the city - Duane Reade, CVS and Rite Aid. I also put one in for the east end of Long Island (where I am right now), and in addition to Rite Aid and CVS, all of the independent drug stores have it. To check for Walgreens, I put in another zip code for Westchester County NY (NYC metro area) where I used to live and Walgreen's is covered. So all of the majors in a densely populated NYC metro area are covered. Excellent news.
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Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 9, 2015 10:46:07 GMT -5
Perhaps someone could call some of the pharmacies and ask about actual availability. Is it at retail store level? or available in X days by order?
I entered Novolog 3ml (300 unit) for comparison (and West Los Angeles for location).
Afrezza 90 4-unit cartridges $233 Novolog 3ml cartridge $82
So, if my assumptions are correct... if one needed minimal prandial insulin (1 unit) then Novolog is considerably less expensive since that same patient would use a 4 unit cartridge of Afrezza. Once the patient required 3 units of Novolog they would be roughly at parity and if the patient needed 4 units, Afrezza would have a price advantage. Anyone see flaws in this analysis?
Can anyone with clinical experience comment on whether insulin naive patients usually start at 1 unit of Novolog with each meal or perhaps higher. That would be critical to know whether Afrezza on average would be more costly for insurers/patients. Being slightly higher isn't necessarily bad. The trick of course is finding that level of premium over injectable that maximizes profit.
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Post by od on Jan 9, 2015 10:49:55 GMT -5
Afrezza has not been launched and is not available at the listed pharmacies at this time. If the data is accurate, it reflects pricing once Afrezza is stocked.
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Post by hammer on Jan 9, 2015 10:55:26 GMT -5
How does this compare to a comparable supply of teh injectable pens? Humalog or novalog? Novolog flexpen 100u on same search engine returns a cost 210.65. This does not account for loss on priming or needle consumables. On a unit to unit comparison 90 dose supply of 4unit Afrezza provides 360 units of insulin for $232. No waste, no consumables.
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Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 9, 2015 11:00:20 GMT -5
I just updated my post above with comparison to Novolog but I did the insulin refill (3ml) 400u instead of the entire pen. How long can one pen be used?
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Post by otherottawaguy on Jan 9, 2015 11:06:06 GMT -5
This might not be the best comparison on a unit for unit basis because these prices are for either a 4u or an 8u regiment.
Wondering if the purported 12U will also be in this ballpark.
OOG
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Post by hammer on Jan 9, 2015 11:06:12 GMT -5
Based on previous calculations a 3ml flex pen last about 12 days or if used consistently throughout the year requires 29 flex pens per year. This figure was based upon 24 units per/day and loss during priming. I would say once larger cartridges are approved that Afrezza may undercut pricing of pens when consumables and waste is taken into account.
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Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 9, 2015 11:33:44 GMT -5
Based on the relatively small difference in price between 4u and 8u Afrezza (assuming these don't get reset a week from now) Mannkind/Sanofi may have come up with a good pricing strategy... it would generate larger profits in early roll out for their target insulin naive patients that presumably start at lower dosages while allowing them to make the argument to insurers that long term costs will be lower because 1) we are actually cheaper as the patient progresses and needs more insulin or 2) Afrezza might slow, or even stop, the progression.
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Post by otherottawaguy on Jan 9, 2015 13:43:08 GMT -5
cross post:
Just did another poke around the rxcut.com website and see that there is a pricing difference between the 4U and the 4U/8U 90 packs.
8U = 285.54 per 90 (month) or $3356 for 12 boxes of 90 units ($6 discount if bought as an annual supply) 4U/8U = 239.54 per 90 or $2724 for 12 boxes ($12 discount per box if bought as an annual supply)
not sure what the ratio of 4u to 8u but assuming 1:2 (one meal per day smaller requirement - dinner, end of day???)
Lets say $1/unit to package and manufacture, leaves us with 195.54
195.54/(90 * 8u) = 0.2716 per unit of insulin
Ergo:
4U = (.2716 * 4 * 90) + 90 = $187 ($2253 annual without discounting)
8U/12U = (.2716 * ((12u * 60) + (8u * 30))) + 90 = $350 ($4208 annual)
12U = (.2716 * 12u * 90) + 90 = $383 ($4600 annual)
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Post by otherottawaguy on Jan 9, 2015 14:14:41 GMT -5
working further on the numbers...
we might be able to calculate the costs of manufacturing if we were sure of the ratio of 4u:8u in the box
assuming 1:2 as I previously suggested:
x = non insulin costs in production of a 90 pack
(285.54 - x)/(90*8) = (239.54 - x)/(60*8 + 30*4) (285.54 - x)/(720) = (239.54 - x)/(600) (285.54 - x)*(600) = (239.54 - x)*(720) 171324 - 600x = 172468 - 720x 720x-600x = 172468-171324 120x = 1144 x = 1124/120 x = 9.53
Does this sound right? Comments appreciated.
OOG
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2015 14:20:38 GMT -5
cross post: Just did another poke around the rxcut.com website and see that there is a pricing difference between the 4U and the 4U/8U 90 packs. 8U = 285.54 per 90 (month) or $3356 for 12 boxes of 90 units ($6 discount if bought as an annual supply) 4U/8U = 239.54 per 90 or $2724 for 12 boxes ($12 discount per box if bought as an annual supply) not sure what the ratio of 4u to 8u but assuming 1:2 (one meal per day smaller requirement - dinner, end of day???) Lets say $1/unit to package and manufacture, leaves us with 195.54 195.54/(90 * 8u) = 0.2716 per unit of insulin Ergo: 4U = (.2716 * 4 * 90) + 90 = $187 ($2253 annual without discounting) 8U/12U = (.2716 * ((12u * 60) + (8u * 30))) + 90 = $350 ($4208 annual) 12U = (.2716 * 12u * 90) + 90 = $383 ($4600 annual) Ive found boxes of Novolog Flexpens (5 pens, 3mL each) for $423/box. This is 1500 units. Using the math that, its $423/1500 or 0.282 $/unit --- Granted, I have no idea how much is wasted? 10%? 50%? If 4U = $233.72, a box of 90 = 4 * 90 = 360 units, or 0.649 $/unit If 4U/8U = $285.54, a box of 90 = 6 * 90 = 540 units, or 0.529 $/unit These seem a bit high, unless the amount wasted in a flexpen is significant. Or, unless my math and assumptions are just not correct.
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