Weight loss drugs: Too $$?

Honestly, they're paying for themselves. I'm saving so much on groceries and eating out, it covers the cost of my 'research'.
 
I'm not sure I agree, Wolf_Cookie. I'm spending a fortune on protein powders, electrolytes, supplements, and all the supplies for reconstitution and injecting (plus all the other peptides I've discovered!). I'd say I'm just about even, and that's without counting the beer I used to drink!
 
I can see that, Scale_Ready. My whole life used to revolve around food. I used to spend all my money eating out and on delivery. I still buy protein shakes and hoard peptides, but I'm spending less now than before when I was obsessed with cooking. It's different for everyone. People who ordered takeout every night might be saving more than me.
 
They cost way too much! I read that it only costs about $5 to make a box of Ozempic ready to sell. If they're selling it for around $1,000, that's a 19,900% profit! What else has that kind of markup? It's awful to do that with medicine.
 
The article doesn't talk about all the costs of dealing with regulations, licenses, and all the other red tape to get a drug approved in the US. I'm not defending the drug companies, but if they didn't have to spend years on that stuff it would cut costs. Then there are the required clinical trials...successful trials cost money, and failed trials cost even more. The company doesn't make any money until after all that. And what about patents? That adds even more to the cost. Plus, big pharma gives 'discounts' to other countries to prevent them from copying the drug. So, we end up paying extra to make up the difference.
 
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Does anyone know what insurance companies or pharmacy benefit managers actually pay for semaglutide or tirzepatide each month, *including* the copay? It could be $5, or it could be close to the list price. It's impossible to know the real contracted price!
 
I think pharmacies get a discount based on how much they buy. I used to go to a small pharmacy, but I wouldn't get my GLP-1s there. It cost them too much, and I didn't want them to lose money, so I get them at a big chain.
 
I agree that there are too many regulations to get a drug approved, but I also like that it's unlikely a new drug will make all my hair fall out. I'm not sure what the solution is.
 
On one hand, it should cost whatever a rich, desperate person who can't control themselves around food is willing to pay (or their insurance). They'll always get that money in America. That's where the price is highest. On the other hand, it's not that difficult to make these drugs, and the crazy prices will create a big secondary market with competition and cheaper prices. It's complicated.
 
Someone has to pay for the Pharmaceutical Executives' mansions, yachts, luxury cars, fancy restaurants, side chicks, etc. 😁
 
I often search for the cost of prescription drugs when I see them advertised on TV. GLP-1s aren't even at the top of the list at $1000/month. Here are some examples:

Rinvoq: Used for arthritis and colitis. $7,059.14 to $20,854.70 a month. Dupixent: Used for eczema. $5,520/month. Skyrizi: Used for psoriasis. $11,381.65 /vial, over $33,000 for the first three months.
 
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