Re: PZ) Novartis Delivers Strong Start to 2006 ......and what of the patients?

[Guest guest]

Sounds like they are doing very well out of us! Any chance of a

reduction of the cost-to-patient do you think?

Gleevec in South Africa costs almost 3 times a good average monthly

salary - the options for some people are to die of starvation or to

die of CML. The problem is, if you choose the Gleevec - you take

your family with you! Hardly seems right does it?

I must admit that as I swallow my tablet every night, I do have a

twinge of guilt because the cost of that single tablet would cure 5

people with TB or feed a family of 4 for a month. I really hope I

am worth it!

If I say those words to friends or family they go nuts and tell me

that I must not be negative but I can't help thinking about it. I

have worked as a community Social worker for 25 years and I know

that there are millions of peopl in my country for whom the cost of

just 1 Gleevec tablet would profoundly change their lives.

I guess the mature thing to do is to make sure that I do something

with my life to make me worth the expenditure but I have to admit

that getting through the day awake feels like an achievment at the

moment.

Sorry - just had to vent and I know you guys will listen....thanks!

[Guest guest]

At 08:20 PM 4/26/06 +0000, you wrote:

>Sounds like they are doing very well out of us! Any chance of a

>reduction of the cost-to-patient do you think?

Hopefully, having new drug choices offered by different drug companies will

eventually make a difference in the cost of these drugs. It will be

interesting to see what Bristol-Myers Squibb charges for BMS when it is

approved, most likely soon. If they want to steal some patients away from

Norvartis and Gleevec, they would price it lower than Gleevec! When Gleevec

was priced, there was no competition.......it was priced same as the usual

dose of interferon, and there was no comparison on tolerance and side

effects, and response........so Novartis won the market. And there are more

drugs in the pipeline.....so maybe some day we will see some price

competition.

[Guest guest]

Hello!

Where is SA are you? I was born and lived in Cape Town and up the

West Coast for most of my life. Now in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee.

I understand your feelings re the cost weighed against the cost of

living and need there. Dont feel guilty - there is a reason for

everything, and I realize that that is easier said than done. You

taking that pill every day is profoundly changing the lives of your

family and friends - you ARE worth it!

I am starting to realise that my son, 22 years old, has a really

good chance at a really good life. I hope he fills it with the best

there is. I wish this for you too.

Love and Light

Annie

ps. do you speak Afrikaans?

>

> Sounds like they are doing very well out of us! Any chance of a

> reduction of the cost-to-patient do you think?

>

> Gleevec in South Africa costs almost 3 times a good average

monthly

> salary - the options for some people are to die of starvation or

to

> die of CML. The problem is, if you choose the Gleevec - you take

> your family with you! Hardly seems right does it?

>

> I must admit that as I swallow my tablet every night, I do have a

> twinge of guilt because the cost of that single tablet would cure

5

> people with TB or feed a family of 4 for a month. I really hope I

> am worth it!

>

> If I say those words to friends or family they go nuts and tell me

> that I must not be negative but I can't help thinking about it. I

> have worked as a community Social worker for 25 years and I know

> that there are millions of peopl in my country for whom the cost

of

> just 1 Gleevec tablet would profoundly change their lives.

>

> I guess the mature thing to do is to make sure that I do something

> with my life to make me worth the expenditure but I have to admit

> that getting through the day awake feels like an achievment at the

> moment.

>

> Sorry - just had to vent and I know you guys will listen....thanks!

>