Why are Fertility Drugs so expensive?

[Anonymous]

With Ferring (post Bravelle disaster) out of the picture Merck has a monopoly on the fertility market? it's mind blowing how expensive these meds are and after a bit of googling I realized the main options Follistim and Gonal-F are made by the same company. Since it's NIAW (national infertility awareness week) I was wondering if any smart reporters have ever investigated this issue?

[Anonymous]

There is nothing to investigate. Our government does not place ceilings on prices for pharmaceuticals, while many other countries do. Essentially, American consumers are paying for R&D costs for the rest of the world. Same for non-american companies - Merck Serono, Organon, etc.

Even in similarly developed countries in Europe the exact same meds cost a lot less without any insurance. Not generics, same brand, same packaging. So they are not that costly to produce.

Same applies to all other meds as well, it's not limited to fertility meds.

[Anonymous]

A lot of drugs are really expensive, but are heavily subsidized by insurance, so consumers think they are only $25.

[Anonymous]

Fertility is big business. There is a lot of $$$$$ being made!

[Anonymous]

Because they are optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they are optional.

This is not true at all! Many drugs that are a matter of life and death for people are very expensive, or don't get made if the disease is too rare. Find another reason to throw shade because this one defies reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing to investigate. Our government does not place ceilings on prices for pharmaceuticals, while many other countries do. Essentially, American consumers are paying for R&D costs for the rest of the world. Same for non-american companies - Merck Serono, Organon, etc.

Even in similarly developed countries in Europe the exact same meds cost a lot less without any insurance. Not generics, same brand, same packaging. So they are not that costly to produce.

Same applies to all other meds as well, it's not limited to fertility meds.

Yup this.

[Anonymous]

The pharma industry is built on the concept of preserving their monopoly
The prices are the offspring of that monopoly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing to investigate. Our government does not place ceilings on prices for pharmaceuticals, while many other countries do. Essentially, American consumers are paying for R&D costs for the rest of the world. Same for non-american companies - Merck Serono, Organon, etc.

Even in similarly developed countries in Europe the exact same meds cost a lot less without any insurance. Not generics, same brand, same packaging. So they are not that costly to produce.

Same applies to all other meds as well, it's not limited to fertility meds.

As above poster said, I've been buying my drugs in Europe. Not generics, much much less expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are optional.

This is not true at all! Many drugs that are a matter of life and death for people are very expensive, or don't get made if the disease is too rare. Find another reason to throw shade because this one defies reality.

Perhaps the PP means they are optional *in the eyes of the insurance companies.* That I believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they are optional.

This is not true at all! Many drugs that are a matter of life and death for people are very expensive, or don't get made if the disease is too rare. Find another reason to throw shade because this one defies reality.

Perhaps the PP means they are optional *in the eyes of the insurance companies.* That I believe.

It's not like insurance companies are paying out of some magical fund that belongs to them - absolutely everything is passed down to the consumers in the form of insurance premiums.

[Anonymous]

demand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pharma industry is built on the concept of preserving their monopoly
The prices are the offspring of that monopoly

6:33 PP here. Well, no, it's called patent law. If someone spends a lot of time and money to come up with a medical breakthrough they are entitled to exclusivity for a certain period of time to recoup the investment. Monopoly is something different and actually is illegal in the US in many forms.

However, at what rate the pharmaceutical companies recoup that investments will differ depending on the price ceilings.

to the PPs who brought up insurance. Things are very convoluted there too. For example, I had 10K lifetime limit for fertility meds. Guess how long it lasted? Exactly 1 IVF cycle (not super high doses either). I had $400 coverage left out of 10K because the med prices are jacked up double and sometimes triple of what it costs to buy 100% out of pocket in the US. Why? Because they can. Same combination of drugs costs ~3-4K oop before any manufacturer discounts via Freedom fertility, and $1,200 in my DH's home country in Eastern Europe, also out of pocket. Not local equivalents or generics, exact same meds.

So think about these things when you vote for "business friendly" candidates in the next elections.

[Anonymous]

I have always been so thankful that we have Caremark insurance. DW and I are a same sex couple, and up until last fall, we didn't qualify for IVF coverage (even though we had 6 failed IUIs, failed IVF procedures, and late term loss). The entire time we were paying out of pocket (for SG's shared risk program), I was so, so thankful that our meds were covered. They always have been, even when we started back in 2012 with a clinical trial (in which no meds were covered). It's so strange because I have no idea why, since I read about other women who get complete IVF coverage but nothing for meds. I guess my work just has a great prescription insurance plan? And I don't work for Caremark or anything, but I have to say, my interactions with them have never been anything but excellent. They are efficient, organized, never mess up the orders - not to mention super polite on the phone. I feel for anyone who has to spend thousands and thousands on meds - it's such a racket.

[Anonymous]

It's a luxury good.