4 ms·

Homeless people are unlikely to pay $20 000 per year which is the price of the drug though.

toxicdevil 2y ago
> Homeless people are unlikely to pay $20 000 per year which is the price of the drug though. True, but think about all the people who are fully functioning and productive members of society and got afflicted with this disease. This med will increase the likelihood that they continue to be highly functioning and compliant with the treatment. This will allow them to keep their jobs and cognitive abilities. Every person I know with this disease has trouble sticking to meds due to side effects, and not sticking to the meds and relapsing multiple times is probably one of the most important reasons that their condition regresses.
- lotusZZZ 2y ago
  It’s not just the side effects that cause people with schizophrenia to be non-compliant with meds. Many people with schizophrenia stop taking meds because they do not think they are sick - anosognosia. It’s why a longer lasting injectable is often recommended over daily oral meds.
  - rs999gti 2y ago
    > longer lasting injectable is often recommended over daily oral meds Both are recommended. Why? Daily meds are not only effective, but remind the patient that they have an illness that needs daily maintenance, it makes them involved in the treatment. Long acting injectables are added monthly to prevent backslides in case the patient forgets or does not want to take their medicine.
- hackernewds 2y ago
  It would be nice if every one could afford it. And people were still filthy rich, but not necessarily exorbitantly rich? It cost the company discovering the drug around $11M
- EasyMark 2y ago
  Yep the poor people will only have to wait 20 years or so for the patent to expire. I’m happy it will help people but I can still get angry at companies that will watch people die and suffer, give a shrug, and continue counting their billions.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
asveikau 2y ago
I agree that price feels shockingly high. However, the government can subsidize treatment. As can private insurance policies, before the sufferer becomes homeless, or if they qualify for a family member's plan. The population suffering these illnesses are already costing the public a lot of money in various forms, it could be worth the investment.
BurningFrog 2y ago
If they're homeless because of schizophrenia, and the drug cures that, $20k/year is easily a profitable investment!
- sqeaky 2y ago
  How completely inhumane. From a strictly numerical perspective you are correct, but it is disgusting and vile. I know plenty of people without mental health issues who can't get jobs that make 20k and I know a few with degrees who can't. Making healthcare a for-profit venture guarantees that poor people suffer disproportionately. Making chemicals is cheap and most of the innovation happens on government grants and funding. A government run healthcare system is obvious a cheaper solution with less suffering.
  - oatmeal1 2y ago
    > Making healthcare a for-profit venture guarantees that poor people suffer disproportionately. This is true of literally every industry; the poor always get less than the rich. Why not nationalize everything so that the poor always get the same as the rich? Surely if the government can run healthcare it can run toy shops and grocery stores.
    - sqeaky 2y ago
      We have seen more than 100 other countries nationalize healthcare and seen it work well. Arguing against it is silly, bordering on irrational. Capitalism simply doesn't work in an environment where one side has infinite leverage.
      - s1artibartfast 2y ago
        Even those countries, it is still a for profit verture. Companies are paid for products, Doctors and healthcare professionals are paid to go to work. These other countries didn't nationalize their industries. They simply use spending controls. The government says we "will pay $X and you can take it or leave it". The US is rather rare in that we say "We will take it no matter the cost". Companies are more or less greedy in different countries. They are the same companies!
ninetyninenine 2y ago
a necessary evil in a capitalist system. Is capitalism perfect? No. Do we know of a better system yet? Maybe. But as of right now better to have a possible cure for 20k rather then nothing.
rs999gti 2y ago
Drugs become generic eventually and costs come down. Zyprexa, which was mentioned in the article, is almost always prescribed as generic Olanzapine. Cost as of 2024 for generic - 9 USD, brand name 476 USD.

> Homeless people are unlikely to pay $20 000 per year which is the price of the drug though. True, but think about all the people who are fully functioning and productive members of society and got afflicted with this disease. This med will increase the likelihood that they continue to be highly functioning and compliant with the treatment. This will allow them to keep their jobs and cognitive abilities. Every person I know with this disease has trouble sticking to meds due to side effects, and not sticking to the meds and relapsing multiple times is probably one of the most important reasons that their condition regresses.

lotusZZZ 2y ago
It’s not just the side effects that cause people with schizophrenia to be non-compliant with meds. Many people with schizophrenia stop taking meds because they do not think they are sick - anosognosia. It’s why a longer lasting injectable is often recommended over daily oral meds.
- rs999gti 2y ago
  > longer lasting injectable is often recommended over daily oral meds Both are recommended. Why? Daily meds are not only effective, but remind the patient that they have an illness that needs daily maintenance, it makes them involved in the treatment. Long acting injectables are added monthly to prevent backslides in case the patient forgets or does not want to take their medicine.
hackernewds 2y ago
It would be nice if every one could afford it. And people were still filthy rich, but not necessarily exorbitantly rich? It cost the company discovering the drug around $11M
EasyMark 2y ago
Yep the poor people will only have to wait 20 years or so for the patent to expire. I’m happy it will help people but I can still get angry at companies that will watch people die and suffer, give a shrug, and continue counting their billions.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

asveikau 2y ago

I agree that price feels shockingly high. However, the government can subsidize treatment. As can private insurance policies, before the sufferer becomes homeless, or if they qualify for a family member's plan. The population suffering these illnesses are already costing the public a lot of money in various forms, it could be worth the investment.

BurningFrog 2y ago

If they're homeless because of schizophrenia, and the drug cures that, $20k/year is easily a profitable investment!

sqeaky 2y ago
How completely inhumane. From a strictly numerical perspective you are correct, but it is disgusting and vile. I know plenty of people without mental health issues who can't get jobs that make 20k and I know a few with degrees who can't. Making healthcare a for-profit venture guarantees that poor people suffer disproportionately. Making chemicals is cheap and most of the innovation happens on government grants and funding. A government run healthcare system is obvious a cheaper solution with less suffering.
- oatmeal1 2y ago
  > Making healthcare a for-profit venture guarantees that poor people suffer disproportionately. This is true of literally every industry; the poor always get less than the rich. Why not nationalize everything so that the poor always get the same as the rich? Surely if the government can run healthcare it can run toy shops and grocery stores.
  - sqeaky 2y ago
    We have seen more than 100 other countries nationalize healthcare and seen it work well. Arguing against it is silly, bordering on irrational. Capitalism simply doesn't work in an environment where one side has infinite leverage.
    - s1artibartfast 2y ago
      Even those countries, it is still a for profit verture. Companies are paid for products, Doctors and healthcare professionals are paid to go to work. These other countries didn't nationalize their industries. They simply use spending controls. The government says we "will pay $X and you can take it or leave it". The US is rather rare in that we say "We will take it no matter the cost". Companies are more or less greedy in different countries. They are the same companies!

ninetyninenine 2y ago

a necessary evil in a capitalist system. Is capitalism perfect? No. Do we know of a better system yet? Maybe. But as of right now better to have a possible cure for 20k rather then nothing.

rs999gti 2y ago

Drugs become generic eventually and costs come down. Zyprexa, which was mentioned in the article, is almost always prescribed as generic Olanzapine. Cost as of 2024 for generic - 9 USD, brand name 476 USD.