General fitness, health and nutrition · Public discussion

Why do drugs cost so much?

Willbill · 2004-01-13T01:49:50+00:00

interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?" http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/09/pf/health_drug_costs/index.htm (full text below) http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/09/pf/health_drug_cost_quest/index.htm (detailed info on: "seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs") http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/08/pf/health_myths_intro/index.htm (Brits and Canadians should find this interesting. 🙂) http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/08/pf/health_myths_1/index.htm (Healthcare myth: We spend too much) (Brits/Canadians/Germans should find this interesting. 🙂) http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/08/pf/health_myths_2/index.htm (Healthcare myth: More equals better) http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/08/pf/health_myths_3/index.htm (Healthcare myth: We're in this together) ... (which is another way of saying that coz we no longer pay out of pocket (in the USA), that there is no longer any real restraint in USA health care costs, which is likely the main reason why USA health care costs will continue to skyrocket in the foreseeable future) best, bill ============= ============= Why do drugs cost so much? http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/09/pf/health_drug_costs/index.htm <" The answers to seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs. October 13, 2003: 11:32 AM EDT By Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine NEW YORK (Money Magazne) - Why do drugs cost so much? Drug companies say that their prices reflect the enormous cost of the research and testing required to develop new medications. Last year, for example, they spent $32 billion on R&D -- an amount equal to about 70 percent of the industry's profits. Moreover, most R&D money is spent on drugs that never reach the market. The industry points out that for every 5,000 treatments tested, only five make it to clinical trials and only one ends up in drugstores. Last year, a mere 15 drugs won FDA approval. As a result, in recent years drugmakers have come to rely heavily on just a handful of blockbuster drugs -- $1 billion-plus sellers. For example, 85 percent of Pfizer's $32.4 billion in sales last year came from its 10 best-selling drugs. Once a drug is approved, the company has a limited time before the patent expires and others can copy the drug and compete on price, which inevitably decimates sales. Prozac sales slid 22 percent the year its patent expired, 63 percent the year after that. Although patents last 2 0 years, the clock starts running when the drug is first developed, not when it's approved, so the average sales period is just 11 years. You might ask, why don't drug companies charge even more? Because they aren't immune to market pressures. Insurers must first agree to cover the drug, and then they and other bulk purchasers negotiate discounts (only those without insurance pay full freight). And pricing depends in part on how many patients are likely to use the drug, how serious the condition it treats is (we'll pay more to tackle a life-threatening disease like cancer) and what else is available. When a drug enters a crowded market, the company may discount to gain a foothold. AstraZeneca, for example, will likely price its new cholesterol-lowering drug an average of 12 percent below Pfizer's Lipitor, says health-care fund manager Tom Wald. On the other hand, if a drug is shown to be more effective and has fewer side effects than what's out there, insurers will pay a premium. The other side of the pill For consumer advocates, another set of numbers tell the story. Drugmakers' net profit margins averaged 19 percent last year vs. 7.5 percent for all the companies in the S&P 500. The seven largest U.S. drugmakers made $31.2 billion last year. Simply put, critics say, the industry is greedy: They run billions of dollars' worth of ads a year to drum up demand, employ overly aggressive tactics to extend the life of their patents and exaggerate the cost of drug development by ignoring huge federal tax breaks for R&D and contributions from federally funded research. Who's right? Your answer really comes down to philosophy."

Started by Willbill · 13 January 2004 · Last activity 13 January 2004 · 49 posts · 2,147 views

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Original section: General fitness, health and nutrition
Published: 13 January 2004
Last activity: 13 January 2004
Original author: Willbill
Posts: 49
Discussion status: Public discussion
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Original post
Willbill
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:49 UTC #1

interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (detailed info on: "seven
pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs"😉
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Brits and Canadians should find
this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We spend too much)
(Brits/Canadians/Germans should find this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: More equals better)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We're in this
together) <"Not everyone really wants lower healthcare costs. Lots of people benefit when you pay
more.">...
(which is another way of saying that coz we no longer pay out of pocket (in the USA), that there
is no longer any real restraint in USA health care costs, which is likely the main reason why USA
health care costs will continue to skyrocket in the foreseeable future)
best, bill
=============
=============
Why do drugs cost so much? money.cnn.comindex.htm
<" The answers to seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs. October
13, 2003: 11:32 AM EDT By Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (Money Magazne) - Why do drugs cost so much?
Drug companies say that their prices reflect the enormous cost of the research and testing
required to develop new medications.
Last year, for example, they spent $32 billion on R&D -- an amount equal to about 70 percent of
the industry's profits. Moreover, most R&D money is spent on drugs that never reach the market.
The industry points out that for every 5,000 treatments tested, only five make it to clinical
trials and only one ends up in drugstores. Last year, a mere 15 drugs won FDA approval.
As a result, in recent years drugmakers have come to rely heavily on just a handful of blockbuster
drugs -- $1 billion-plus sellers. For example, 85 percent of Pfizer's $32.4 billion in sales last
year came from its 10 best-selling drugs.
Once a drug is approved, the company has a limited time before the patent expires and others can
copy the drug and compete on price, which inevitably decimates sales. Prozac sales slid 22 percent
the year its patent expired, 63 percent the year after that. Although patents last 2 0 years, the
clock starts running when the drug is first developed, not when it's approved, so the average
sales period is just 11 years.
You might ask, why don't drug companies charge even more?
Because they aren't immune to market pressures. Insurers must first agree to cover the drug, and
then they and other bulk purchasers negotiate discounts (only those without insurance pay full
freight). And pricing depends in part on how many patients are likely to use the drug, how serious
the condition it treats is (we'll pay more to tackle a life-threatening disease like cancer) and
what else is available.
When a drug enters a crowded market, the company may discount to gain a foothold. AstraZeneca, for
example, will likely price its new cholesterol-lowering drug an average of 12 percent below
Pfizer's Lipitor, says health-care fund manager Tom Wald. On the other hand, if a drug is shown to
be more effective and has fewer side effects than what's out there, insurers will pay a premium.
The other side of the pill
For consumer advocates, another set of numbers tell the story. Drugmakers' net profit margins
averaged 19 percent last year vs. 7.5 percent for all the companies in the S&P 500. The seven
largest U.S. drugmakers made $31.2 billion last year.
Simply put, critics say, the industry is greedy: They run billions of dollars' worth of ads a year
to drum up demand, employ overly aggressive tactics to extend the life of their patents and
exaggerate the cost of drug development by ignoring huge federal tax breaks for R&D and
contributions from federally funded research.
Who's right? Your answer really comes down to philosophy."

Report
Bay Area Dave
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:53 UTC #2

it boils down to one word, "greed"! The pharmaceutical companies can rationalize all they want about
R&D costs, but in the end, they make WAY more than they spend...
dave
willbill said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (detailed info on: "seven
pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs"😉
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Brits and Canadians should find
this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We spend too much)
(Brits/Canadians/Germans should find this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: More equals better)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We're in this
together) <"Not everyone really wants lower healthcare costs. Lots of people benefit when you pay
more.">...
(which is another way of saying that coz we no longer pay out of pocket (in the USA), that
there is no longer any real restraint in USA health care costs, which is likely the main reason
why USA health care costs will continue to skyrocket in the foreseeable future)
best, bill
=============
=============
Why do drugs cost so much? money.cnn.comindex.htm
<" The answers to seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs.
October 13, 2003: 11:32 AM EDT By Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (Money Magazne) - Why do drugs cost so much?
Drug companies say that their prices reflect the enormous cost of the research and testing
required to develop new medications.
Last year, for example, they spent $32 billion on R&D -- an amount equal to about 70 percent of
the industry's profits. Moreover, most R&D money is spent on drugs that never reach the market.
The industry points out that for every 5,000 treatments tested, only five make it to clinical
trials and only one ends up in drugstores. Last year, a mere 15 drugs won FDA approval.
As a result, in recent years drugmakers have come to rely heavily on just a handful of
blockbuster drugs -- $1 billion-plus sellers. For example, 85 percent of Pfizer's $32.4 billion
in sales last year came from its 10 best-selling drugs.
Once a drug is approved, the company has a limited time before the patent expires and others can
copy the drug and compete on price, which inevitably decimates sales. Prozac sales slid 22
percent the year its patent expired, 63 percent the year after that. Although patents last 2 0
years, the clock starts running when the drug is first developed, not when it's approved, so the
average sales period is just 11 years.
You might ask, why don't drug companies charge even more?
Because they aren't immune to market pressures. Insurers must first agree to cover the drug, and
then they and other bulk purchasers negotiate discounts (only those without insurance pay full
freight). And pricing depends in part on how many patients are likely to use the drug, how
serious the condition it treats is (we'll pay more to tackle a life-threatening disease like
cancer) and what else is available.
When a drug enters a crowded market, the company may discount to gain a foothold. AstraZeneca,
for example, will likely price its new cholesterol-lowering drug an average of 12 percent below
Pfizer's Lipitor, says health-care fund manager Tom Wald. On the other hand, if a drug is shown
to be more effective and has fewer side effects than what's out there, insurers will pay a
premium.
The other side of the pill
For consumer advocates, another set of numbers tell the story. Drugmakers' net profit margins
averaged 19 percent last year vs. 7.5 percent for all the companies in the S&P 500. The seven
largest U.S. drugmakers made $31.2 billion last year.
Simply put, critics say, the industry is greedy: They run billions of dollars' worth of ads a
year to drum up demand, employ overly aggressive tactics to extend the life of their patents and
exaggerate the cost of drug development by ignoring huge federal tax breaks for R&D and
contributions from federally funded research.
Who's right? Your answer really comes down to philosophy."

Report
Brad Sheppard
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:53 UTC #3

I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder is
the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder that
employers are reluctant to hire?
willbill <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (detailed info on: "seven
pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs"😉
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Brits and Canadians should find
this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We spend too much)
(Brits/Canadians/Germans should find this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: More equals better)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We're in this
together) <"Not everyone really wants lower healthcare costs. Lots of people benefit when you pay
more.">...
(which is another way of saying that coz we no longer pay out of pocket (in the USA), that
there is no longer any real restraint in USA health care costs, which is likely the main reason
why USA health care costs will continue to skyrocket in the foreseeable future)
best, bill
=============
=============
Why do drugs cost so much? money.cnn.comindex.htm
<" The answers to seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs.
October 13, 2003: 11:32 AM EDT By Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (Money Magazne) - Why do drugs cost so much?
Drug companies say that their prices reflect the enormous cost of the research and testing
required to develop new medications.
Last year, for example, they spent $32 billion on R&D -- an amount equal to about 70 percent of
the industry's profits. Moreover, most R&D money is spent on drugs that never reach the market.
The industry points out that for every 5,000 treatments tested, only five make it to clinical
trials and only one ends up in drugstores. Last year, a mere 15 drugs won FDA approval.
As a result, in recent years drugmakers have come to rely heavily on just a handful of
blockbuster drugs -- $1 billion-plus sellers. For example, 85 percent of Pfizer's $32.4 billion
in sales last year came from its 10 best-selling drugs.
Once a drug is approved, the company has a limited time before the patent expires and others can
copy the drug and compete on price, which inevitably decimates sales. Prozac sales slid 22
percent the year its patent expired, 63 percent the year after that. Although patents last 2 0
years, the clock starts running when the drug is first developed, not when it's approved, so the
average sales period is just 11 years.
You might ask, why don't drug companies charge even more?
Because they aren't immune to market pressures. Insurers must first agree to cover the drug, and
then they and other bulk purchasers negotiate discounts (only those without insurance pay full
freight). And pricing depends in part on how many patients are likely to use the drug, how
serious the condition it treats is (we'll pay more to tackle a life-threatening disease like
cancer) and what else is available.
When a drug enters a crowded market, the company may discount to gain a foothold. AstraZeneca,
for example, will likely price its new cholesterol-lowering drug an average of 12 percent below
Pfizer's Lipitor, says health-care fund manager Tom Wald. On the other hand, if a drug is shown
to be more effective and has fewer side effects than what's out there, insurers will pay a
premium.
The other side of the pill
For consumer advocates, another set of numbers tell the story. Drugmakers' net profit margins
averaged 19 percent last year vs. 7.5 percent for all the companies in the S&P 500. The seven
largest U.S. drugmakers made $31.2 billion last year.
Simply put, critics say, the industry is greedy: They run billions of dollars' worth of ads a
year to drum up demand, employ overly aggressive tactics to extend the life of their patents and
exaggerate the cost of drug development by ignoring huge federal tax breaks for R&D and
contributions from federally funded research.
Who's right? Your answer really comes down to philosophy."

Report
Nico Kadel-Garc
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:53 UTC #4

willbill said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
Willbill, it's not usually legal to post someone else's complete work this way. Please give the
reference and a short excerpt instead.

Report
Chad
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:54 UTC #5

willbill said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (detailed info on: "seven
pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs"😉
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Brits and Canadians should find
this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We spend too much)
(Brits/Canadians/Germans should find this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: More equals better)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We're in this
together) <"Not everyone really wants lower healthcare costs. Lots of people benefit when you pay
more.">...
(which is another way of saying that coz we no longer pay out of pocket (in the USA), that there
is no longer any real restraint in USA health care costs, which is likely the main reason why
USA health care costs will continue to skyrocket in the foreseeable future)
best, bill
=============
=============
Why do drugs cost so much? money.cnn.comindex.htm
<" The answers to seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs.
October 13, 2003: 11:32 AM EDT By Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (Money Magazne) - Why do drugs cost so much?
Drug companies say that their prices reflect the enormous cost of the research and testing
required to develop new medications.
Last year, for example, they spent $32 billion on R&D -- an amount equal to about 70 percent of
the industry's profits. Moreover, most R&D money is spent on drugs that never reach the market.
The industry points out that for every 5,000 treatments tested, only five make it to clinical
trials and only one ends up in drugstores. Last year, a mere 15 drugs won FDA approval.
As a result, in recent years drugmakers have come to rely heavily on just a handful of
blockbuster drugs -- $1 billion-plus sellers. For example, 85 percent of Pfizer's $32.4 billion
in sales last year came from its 10 best-selling drugs.
Once a drug is approved, the company has a limited time before the patent expires and others can
copy the drug and compete on price, which inevitably decimates sales. Prozac sales slid 22
percent the year its patent expired, 63 percent the year after that. Although patents last 2 0
years, the clock starts running when the drug is first developed, not when it's approved, so the
average sales period is just 11 years.
You might ask, why don't drug companies charge even more?
Because they aren't immune to market pressures. Insurers must first agree to cover the drug, and
then they and other bulk purchasers negotiate discounts (only those without insurance pay full
freight). And pricing depends in part on how many patients are likely to use the drug, how
serious the condition it treats is (we'll pay more to tackle a life-threatening disease like
cancer) and what else is available.
When a drug enters a crowded market, the company may discount to gain a foothold. AstraZeneca,
for example, will likely price its new cholesterol-lowering drug an average of 12 percent below
Pfizer's Lipitor, says health-care fund manager Tom Wald. On the other hand, if a drug is shown
to be more effective and has fewer side effects than what's out there, insurers will pay a
premium.
The other side of the pill
For consumer advocates, another set of numbers tell the story. Drugmakers' net profit margins
averaged 19 percent last year vs. 7.5 percent for all the companies in the S&P 500. The seven
largest U.S. drugmakers made $31.2 billion last year.
Simply put, critics say, the industry is greedy: They run billions of dollars' worth of ads a
year to drum up demand, employ overly aggressive tactics to extend the life of their patents and
exaggerate the cost of drug development by ignoring huge federal tax breaks for R&D and
contributions from federally funded research. concatenated Who's right? Your answer really comes
down to philosophy."

Report
If You Can'T Sw
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:58 UTC #6

Re: Why do drugs cost so much?
Group: misc.health.diabetes Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2003, 9:34pm From: [email hidden] (Nico=A0Kadel-
Garcia) willbill wrote: interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
Willbill, it's not usually legal to post someone else's complete work this way. Please give the
reference and a short excerpt instead.
you have got to be kidding ^
Bill, we got the cuffs ready. GIVE YOUR SELF UP! ;=3D)
the case, minus a few cans!

Report
If You Can'T Sw
Archived post

13 January 2004, 01:58 UTC #7

Re: Why do drugs cost so much?
Group: misc.health.diabetes Date: Tue, Oct 14, 2003, 9:34pm From: [email hidden] (Nico=A0Kadel-
Garcia) willbill wrote: interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
Willbill, it's not usually legal to post someone else's complete work this way. Please give the
reference and a short excerpt instead.
you have got to be kidding ^
Bill, we got the cuffs ready. GIVE YOUR SELF UP! ;=3D)
the case, minus a few cans!

Report
Ted Rosenberg
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:00 UTC #8

cc'd by email Uh Brad - in case you didn't notice, the increase in health insurance costs is because
opf the increase in health CARE costs - and a LOT of that is DRUGS
Also, the false claim as to how much it costs to develop a drug is just that FALSE
The drug companies spend more on advertising.
AND, if you look at the so-called "R & D" expense, it includes all of their marketing studies
and design
Look at the return on equity of drug companies as compared to other companies.
Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder is
the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder that
employers are reluctant to hire?
willbill <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (detailed info on: "seven
pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs"😉
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Brits and Canadians should find
this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We spend too much)
(Brits/Canadians/Germans should find this interesting. 🙂)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: More equals better)
money.cnn.comindex.htm (Healthcare myth: We're in this
together) <"Not everyone really wants lower healthcare costs. Lots of people benefit when you pay
more.">...
(which is another way of saying that coz we no longer pay out of pocket (in the USA), that
there is no longer any real restraint in USA health care costs, which is likely the main reason
why USA health care costs will continue to skyrocket in the foreseeable future)
best, bill
=============
=============
Why do drugs cost so much? money.cnn.comindex.htm
<" The answers to seven pressing questions about the fortune we spend on prescription drugs.
October 13, 2003: 11:32 AM EDT By Lisa Gibbs, Money Magazine
NEW YORK (Money Magazne) - Why do drugs cost so much?
Drug companies say that their prices reflect the enormous cost of the research and testing
required to develop new medications.
Last year, for example, they spent $32 billion on R&D -- an amount equal to about 70 percent of
the industry's profits. Moreover, most R&D money is spent on drugs that never reach the market.
The industry points out that for every 5,000 treatments tested, only five make it to clinical
trials and only one ends up in drugstores. Last year, a mere 15 drugs won FDA approval.
As a result, in recent years drugmakers have come to rely heavily on just a handful of
blockbuster drugs -- $1 billion-plus sellers. For example, 85 percent of Pfizer's $32.4 billion
in sales last year came from its 10 best-selling drugs.
Once a drug is approved, the company has a limited time before the patent expires and others can
copy the drug and compete on price, which inevitably decimates sales. Prozac sales slid 22
percent the year its patent expired, 63 percent the year after that. Although patents last 2 0
years, the clock starts running when the drug is first developed, not when it's approved, so the
average sales period is just 11 years.
You might ask, why don't drug companies charge even more?
Because they aren't immune to market pressures. Insurers must first agree to cover the drug, and
then they and other bulk purchasers negotiate discounts (only those without insurance pay full
freight). And pricing depends in part on how many patients are likely to use the drug, how
serious the condition it treats is (we'll pay more to tackle a life-threatening disease like
cancer) and what else is available.
When a drug enters a crowded market, the company may discount to gain a foothold. AstraZeneca,
for example, will likely price its new cholesterol-lowering drug an average of 12 percent below
Pfizer's Lipitor, says health-care fund manager Tom Wald. On the other hand, if a drug is shown
to be more effective and has fewer side effects than what's out there, insurers will pay a
premium.
The other side of the pill
For consumer advocates, another set of numbers tell the story. Drugmakers' net profit margins
averaged 19 percent last year vs. 7.5 percent for all the companies in the S&P 500. The seven
largest U.S. drugmakers made $31.2 billion last year.
Simply put, critics say, the industry is greedy: They run billions of dollars' worth of ads a
year to drum up demand, employ overly aggressive tactics to extend the life of their patents and
exaggerate the cost of drug development by ignoring huge federal tax breaks for R&D and
contributions from federally funded research.
Who's right? Your answer really comes down to philosophy."

Report
Mike Gray
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:00 UTC #9

Bay Area Dave said:
it boils down to one word, "greed"! The pharmaceutical companies can rationalize all they want
about R&D costs, but in the end, they make WAY more than they spend...
Good thing they do. If they didn't, they'd be out of business and you'd be spending yer money on
books that tell ya which tree bark to chew for whatever ails ya.

Report
Mike Gray
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:00 UTC #10

Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder is
the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder that
employers are reluctant to hire?
And that's because the consumer advocates have gutted all attempts to allow the insurors to deny
payment for unnecessary treatment.

Report
Willbill
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:00 UTC #11

Tue said:
willbill said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
Willbill, it's not usually legal to post someone else's complete work this way. Please give the
reference and a short excerpt instead.
get real. 🙁
i gave 6 refs (the one above is the primary ref)
the full text (for all 6 refs) is more than 6x what i posted
bill

Report
Mike Gray
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:01 UTC #12

Ted Rosenberg said:
cc'd by email Uh Brad - in case you didn't notice, the increase in health insurance costs is
because opf the increase in health CARE costs - and a LOT of that is DRUGS
Also, the false claim as to how much it costs to develop a drug is just that FALSE
The drug companies spend more on advertising.
Of course. Remember, if ya ask for it, the doc's gotta give it to ya and the insurance company has
gotta pay for it. So ask for it whether ya need it or not. But it does keep unit costs down.

Report
Willbill
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:01 UTC #13

Tue said:
Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder
is the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder
that employers are reluctant to hire?
And that's because the consumer advocates have gutted all attempts to allow the insurors to deny
payment for unnecessary treatment.
t1 mike, are you gay?
bill (not gay), t1 since '57

Report
Jhem
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:01 UTC #14

Ted Rosenberg said:

Also, the false claim as to how much it costs to develop a drug is just that FALSE
[censored]!
Quoted message said:
The drug companies spend more on advertising.
More of the same [censored].
Quoted message said:
AND, if you look at the so-called "R & D" expense, it includes all of their marketing studies
and design
That's what the tax laws allow. Same thing applies to ANY consumer good. Marketing is the
development portion of R&D.
Quoted message said:
Look at the return on equity of drug companies as compared to other companies.
Yeah Ted, that's it. They're profitable, therefore they're evil!
What's the matter, didn't hold onto your PHARMACO stocks through the 80's?
Sounds like more sour grapes to me Ted.
Regards,
James the Elder

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Tim Kettring
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:01 UTC #15

Mike ,
You have got to be kidding me , insurers are actually paying for "
no , i am a man in a womans body...no , a computer in a cats body...no a horse in a mouses body
etc... ( why cant the stupid people just be glad they are what they are and are not otherwise
sick ??? )
tim
"mike gray, CID" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Cn_ib.178562$0v4.13725651@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
Quoted message said:
Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder
is the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder
that employers are reluctant to hire?
And that's because the consumer advocates have gutted all attempts to allow the insurors to deny
payment for unnecessary treatment.

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Nico Kadel-Garc
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:01 UTC #16

willbill said:
Tue said:
willbill said:
interesting set of articles in CNN today on: "Why do drugs cost so much?"
money.cnn.comindex.htm (full text below)
Willbill, it's not usually legal to post someone else's complete work this way. Please give the
reference and a short excerpt instead.
get real. 🙁
i gave 6 refs (the one above is the primary ref)
the full text (for all 6 refs) is more than 6x what i posted
Ahh. Hmm. I thought it was the full text: the articles wasn't really very long. My apologies.

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Mike Gray
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:02 UTC #17

willbill said:
Tue said:
Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder
is the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder
that employers are reluctant to hire?
And that's because the consumer advocates have gutted all attempts to allow the insurors to deny
payment for unnecessary treatment.
Quoted message said:

t1 mike, are you gay?
Naw, just uninsured.

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Nico Kadel-Garc
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:02 UTC #18

willbill said:
Tue said:
Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me madder
is the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it any wonder
that employers are reluctant to hire?
And that's because the consumer advocates have gutted all attempts to allow the insurors to deny
payment for unnecessary treatment.
Quoted message said:
t1 mike, are you gay?
bill (not gay), t1 since '57
operations are paid for by their recipients or their families, not insurance.

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Gary Rimar
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:02 UTC #19

Tim:
I am a man. I was born with a man's body. I feel like a man. All is in sync with me. This is true of
most people.
What would you do with a person that doesn't have this congruency? There was a boy that was born
with malformed genitals. As an infant, they decided to make him a girl because of the state of
quality of surgery, and because he'd look more normal as a girl. They tried to bring him up as a
girl. It didn't work. He felt gender dysphoria, knew he was a boy, and eventually had to have
reconstructive surgery to put him back the way G-d made him.
Some people who haven't gone through his experience for whatever reason also feel this gender
dysphoria. Imagine if you felt exactly as you do, but you had female genitalia. How comfortable do
you think you'd feel in your own skin? How would you feel with other guys hitting on you, but
knowing that
that other guys do)?
By the way, even though I'm taking the other side on this issue, I'm not a guy who is (or would) hit
on you, lest you wonder.
Why gender dysphoria occurs is anyone's guess. If we can't change the orientation, then the only
other choice is to change the plumbing to match it.
There are three orientations:
What gender your physical body suggests What gender you feel like you are in your brain
None of these are dependent on the other, much as you might like to think they are. Thank G-d you're
congruent (as I am), cause you might not be mature enough to handle it if you weren't.
Gary
"tim kettring" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Mike ,
You have got to be kidding me , insurers are actually paying for "
Quoted message said:

no , i am a man in a womans body...no , a computer in a cats body...no a horse in a mouses body
etc... ( why cant the stupid people just be glad they are what they are and are not otherwise
sick ??? )
tim
"mike gray, CID" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Brad Sheppard said:
I agree high drug prices suck, but it does cost a fortune to develop them. What makes me
madder is the huge and risingcost of health insurance. Mine is up 19% over last year. Is it
any wonder that employers are reluctant to hire?
And that's because the consumer advocates have gutted all attempts to allow the insurors to deny
payment for unnecessary treatment.

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Mack
Archived post

13 January 2004, 02:02 UTC #20

On 14 Oct 2003 20:32:04 -0700, [email hidden] (tim
kettring) said:
Mike ,
You have got to be kidding me , insurers are actually paying for "
Quoted message said:

no , i am a man in a womans body...no , a computer in a cats body...no a horse in a mouses body
etc... ( why cant the stupid people just be glad they are what they are and are not otherwise
sick ??? )
tim
we've asked mu/chung why he is not happy in his own skin, the answers were quite revealing.
Mack Type 1 since 1975 alt-support-diabetes.orgalt-support-diabetes.org insulin-pumpers.orginsulin-pumpers.org
In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a
world filled with strife and terrorism.

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