3 ms·

It's relevant to mention that the patent for every component of Truvada will expire this September.

techrat 6y ago
No guarantee the price will go down in the US as a result. An epilepsy medication I took, once the patents completely expired (both on the regular and extended release versions), the generics ended up costing me more to pick up while the branded version rose in price as well.
- pg_bot 6y ago
  It typically takes about 6 months to 3 years for generic drug prices to decline due to how we approve generics in the USA. Most people don't know that we have an insane policy whereby the first generic drug applicant receives an extended period of market exclusivity. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/abbreviated-new-drug-application-anda/paragraph-iv-drug-product-applications-generic-drug-patent-challenge-notifications https://www.fda.gov/drugs/abbreviated-new-drug-application-a...
  - ultimoo 6y ago
    I'm curious with what the motivation behind that rule is -- assuming there is one and the rule isn't a result of plain lobbying.
  - refurb 6y ago
    "Most people don't know that we have an insane policy whereby the first generic drug applicant receives an extended period of market exclusivity." The US has some of the lowest cost generics in developed nations - prices tend to be lower than the EU. The US has some of the highest generic drug penetration of developed nations. [1] That's because of things like the 180 generic drug exclusivity and mandatory generic substitution laws. The 180 exclusivity is a big part of that. If you open the flood gates to any generic manufacturer, the margins disappear so quickly that some manufacturers won't even bother to try. By dangling a massive carrot whereby the generic manufacturers can quickly recoup costs and make a large profit, it drives generic companies to compete to the enter the market. When Lipitor went off patent, eleven generic companies entered the market and prices dropped 95%. The US generic market is one of the best functioning in the world. [1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5594322/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5594322/
abeppu 6y ago
Generic truvada is available in the US but isn't dramatically cheaper. How likely is it that the patent expiration will actually drive down prices?
dillondoyle 6y ago
But does that cover the combo? I guess you could take two pills.

No guarantee the price will go down in the US as a result. An epilepsy medication I took, once the patents completely expired (both on the regular and extended release versions), the generics ended up costing me more to pick up while the branded version rose in price as well.

pg_bot 6y ago
It typically takes about 6 months to 3 years for generic drug prices to decline due to how we approve generics in the USA. Most people don't know that we have an insane policy whereby the first generic drug applicant receives an extended period of market exclusivity. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/abbreviated-new-drug-application-anda/paragraph-iv-drug-product-applications-generic-drug-patent-challenge-notifications https://www.fda.gov/drugs/abbreviated-new-drug-application-a...
- ultimoo 6y ago
  I'm curious with what the motivation behind that rule is -- assuming there is one and the rule isn't a result of plain lobbying.
- refurb 6y ago
  "Most people don't know that we have an insane policy whereby the first generic drug applicant receives an extended period of market exclusivity." The US has some of the lowest cost generics in developed nations - prices tend to be lower than the EU. The US has some of the highest generic drug penetration of developed nations. [1] That's because of things like the 180 generic drug exclusivity and mandatory generic substitution laws. The 180 exclusivity is a big part of that. If you open the flood gates to any generic manufacturer, the margins disappear so quickly that some manufacturers won't even bother to try. By dangling a massive carrot whereby the generic manufacturers can quickly recoup costs and make a large profit, it drives generic companies to compete to the enter the market. When Lipitor went off patent, eleven generic companies entered the market and prices dropped 95%. The US generic market is one of the best functioning in the world. [1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5594322/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5594322/

abeppu 6y ago

Generic truvada is available in the US but isn't dramatically cheaper. How likely is it that the patent expiration will actually drive down prices?

dillondoyle 6y ago

But does that cover the combo? I guess you could take two pills.