Will It Ever Stop?
By Sharon
@simone10 (54189)
Louisville, Kentucky
January 9, 2016 6:16am CST
The drug companies are at it again. Pfizer is planning a merger with Allergen hoping to help it's U.S. tax bill. On January 1st, they increased the prices of over 100 of their drugs and some had as much as a 20% increase with Lyrica being one of them. With this merger, they would be considered the worlds' largest drug manufacturer and their headquarters would be in Ireland where Allergen is located.
I don't know about you but I'm tired of drug manufacturers and their price increases. I know every business has to make a profit but you would be really surprised at how much these drugs cost versus how much they sell them for. I used to work for a mail order pharmacy and we only handled high dollar drugs. The way they mark up these prices are ridiculous. I will applaud them for their programs they have for people who do not have insurance as they can usually get it for a zero copay. But does this outweigh all of the people who are having to pay more or the insurance companies that have to pay more? I'm not sure.
What do you think about this?
Pfizer Inc (PFE.N), which plans a $160 billion merger with Ireland-based Allergan Plc (AGN.N) to slash its U.S. tax bill, on Jan. 1 raised U.S. prices for more than 100 of its drugs, some by as much as 20 percent, according to statistics compiled by global
17 people like this
11 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
10 Jan 16
this is part'f the medical reform i was hopin' that the 'affordable care act' would'a taken care'f. whilst they need funds fer research'n development (oh wait, they get that from gov'rnment grants 'n private donations...), jest take a looksie 't what the honcho's 'f such places're makin' per year jest in salary alone. they all ought to be tarred 'n feathered...
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Jan 16
@simone10 'tis utterly ridiculous the gougin' that takes place with no retort :(
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
10 Jan 16
A lot of p[eople won't be able to afford the increases so they won't be able to take it.
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
9 Jan 16
Profit rules. Putting their headquarters in Ireland will also result in less taxes for them. I really hate when companies put their headquarters in Ireland or Luxemburg, and I wish that EEC puts the same taxes for a company, whatever the country, to forbid this kind of unethical tax evasion.
2 people like this
@ria1606roy (2797)
• Kolkata, India
9 Jan 16
They are doing business, but one should consider the consequence behind this, because this is not just any business. It's pharmaceuticals. It needs to be affordable. This is outrageous, as if the prices weren't high already.
2 people like this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
9 Jan 16
The doctor wanted to raise my blood pressure pills by 60 mg but when I went to get them, the price jumped from $21 to $95. I made the decision to stay with the original, I just can't afford the jump of that much. How do they expect anyone to pay that much for pills they have to have but can't afford.
2 people like this
@fawkes62 (1276)
• United States
11 Jan 16
It frustrates me how much these companies charge for their medications. My son was on one that we almost had to take him off of because our monthly copay (with insurance) was nearing $80 and we just couldn't afford it. The doctor had us apply for assistance from the company and for a family of 5 with insurance you needed to have an income of less than $80000 and a copay of over $50. When they can afford to give the medication away for free to people that make that and have insurance, their medication costs too much. We got it for free until a few months ago, but now it's generic and only costs us $4 a month after insurance.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
12 Jan 16
They do have some great assistance programs if you qualify. I was on a medication a couple of years ago that cost over $1000 a month and I didn't have insurance. Fortunately I qualified for their assistance program and got it for free.
1 person likes this
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
1 Mar 16
Accredo? Anyway, I agree with you. I also work for a mail order pharmacy and I see the steady increase of medication prices all the time.
@dibz123 (136)
• Ireland
14 Jan 16
They really need to stop its just so affordable for some people but all they care for is their profit from those who can afford it at their ridiculous set prices
@Hannihar (129681)
• Israel
7 Jan 18
Medication here is also very expensive at the pharmacy here in Jerusalem.
