6 ms·
Very glad to see this, it's worth noting that the compounded semiglutide pricing (think generic, although it's more complicated than that) has been plummeting
by some_random 2y ago
Very glad to see this, it's worth noting that the compounded semiglutide pricing (think generic, although it's more complicated than that) has been plummeting ever since it was introduced onto the market. We've seen some pretty incredible results and I really hope they get cheap enough to be prescribed more widely.
- Someone1234 2y agoIt is worth noting that Compounded Semaglutide sold in the US is still more expensive than branded Semaglutide sold in other markets, where national price negotiations occur. For example, it can be under $100/month in several European nations. The US just has no mechanism to control prices. There isn't really competition for specific drugs.
- chriscappuccio 2y agoThe research peptide sites are about the only reasonable places to buy this stuff
- malfist 2y agoNonsetrile compounding, like you'd do from the peptide sites is only safe for immediate use, and semaglutide is not that way. You mix up a vial and use it for a month or so. Can you do it? Sure. Are you going to get an infection from it? Probably not. Is it riskier than having a compounding pharmacy doing it the right way? Absolutely, and in a meaningful amount of risk. The type of infections you get from contaminated injections are not something you want to deal with
- spondylosaurus 2y agoHaven't done it myself but there is a robust DIY community for GLP-1 drugs. No idea if anyone's gotten hurt yet or if it's been pretty okay so far.
- malfist 2y agoOh sure, there absolutely is. Not only for glp-1s but for all kinds of peptides, especially SARMs. Doesn't mean it's safe. Lots of people trade off a small risk of harm for immediate benefits. Hell, look at alcohol.
- tuumi 2y agoI found a pack of 10 5mg bottles in a Discord group for $90 For me that would be a year's worth. Comes with 3rd party testing. Haven't pulled the trigger on that deal yet but I do have some I got for $50 for a 5mg bottle and that's still a hell of a deal. So far so good.
- olddog2 2y agoIt comes as lyophilized powder. You reconstitute the drug yourself and follow WHO sterility guidelines (reconstitute with bacteriostatic water, alcohol wipe ampoule top before accessing, keep it in the fridge, and throw it out if you havent finished it within 30 days). I know a dozen people doing this for the last year and none of them have had any sign of even superficial infection.
- whatshisface 2y agoI think the way it works when you get bacteria into your blood is either you have no noticeable symptoms, or you get a high fever and almost die from sepsis.
- olddog2 2y agoPeople with minimal training drew up billions of doses of covid vaccines from multi-use vials and administered them intramuscularly (deeper and therefore potentially more risky than subcutaneous ozempic/mounjaro) and I never heard of anyone getting an infection from this
- loeg 2y agoImportantly, they weren't the ones mixing the vials. That's the missing piece here. The vials were already sterile.
- malfist 2y agoThose are wise safety procedures, not that's not sterile compounding. EVERYTHING needs to be sterile. The needles used for mixing, the air in the room, the hood you're mixing it in, everything. The room or hood has to be in positive pressure, and the ampule needs to be at a partial vacuum. What you're describing is a adequate for immediate use. Not use and storage. Wiping the bottle before use is just standard practice to prevent contamination after compounding.
- olddog2 2y ago
- Auracle 2y agoExcept you have to figure out who is actually selling legit stuff at the real dosage. From a quick look earlier this week that's not easy, and I've dealt with research peptide sites before. I was hoping to try one of the ones that's newer than Semaglutide for my IBS - that worked really well the later half of the week but not the first few days where it made things worse. I don't need to lose weight but I'd love to get that under control better.
- hobobaggins 2y agoCheck out local weight-loss and hormone clinics, which often have connections to reliable compounding pharmacies.
- MichaelZuo 2y agoI’ve seen these comparisons a lot, but how is it determined that the actual quality of a name brand medicine is the same in the two different markets…? i.e. The price difference could be reflecting a real qualitative difference such as being produced in different facilities, slightly less pure ingredients, less stringent QC, etc…
- Someone1234 2y agoIt feels very conspiratorial to suggest multinational pharmaceutical companies are creating low quality versions of their own branded drugs in Europe. We know that these drugs cost roughly $10/dose to produce, and most of that is the auto-injector pens. Hardly seems worth ruining their reputation and getting punished be regulators to save a few dollars on something with a 600-6000% markup.
- MichaelZuo 2y ago> We know that these drugs cost roughly $10/dose to produce… Can you link the source? If it really is a 600% to 6000% markup then it does seem unlikely they would try to save a few dollars.
- Someone1234 2y agohttps://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/novo-nordisk-ozempic-can-be-made-for-less-than-5-a-month-study.html https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/27/novo-nordisk-ozempic-can-be-...
- s1artibartfast 2y agoI think these calculations are wildly optimistic. As far as I can tell, they basically ignore the cost of development, labor, quality assurance, and regulatory. It is like estimating the cost of a rocket based on the price of metal.
- Someone1234 2y ago
- gnkyfrg 2y ago[dead]
- s1artibartfast 2y agoI think it is critical to differentiate price controls and purchasing controls. Most other markets with state insurance have purchasing controls. That is to say, if the price is too high, the government doesn't buy it. Very few places have price controls e.g. "products cant be sold for more than X". The US government is the outlier in that it situationally states it will pay the price no matter the cost. Reasonable government policy needs to start with putting a price on human life (QALY), and purchasing goods and services that come in under that price. This is how it works in other state insurance systems.
- simfree 2y agoWe aren't other state insurance systems, though. Instead, we have a divided and fractured jigsaw and heavy lobbying to keep it that way.
- s1artibartfast 2y agoCorrect. You have identified a problem
- hahahacorn 2y agoGoing to start using this response more frequently.
- dkjaudyeqooe 2y agoAlthough you're right, it's a little misleading. The point is that governments won't pay any price, they usually negotiate a (good) price given their buying power. As you say they may not buy it, but countries that dictate a price (generally) cannot force a company to supply it. Ultimately it comes down to market forces, even if the market looks very strange, with essentially one buyer and one seller.
- s1artibartfast 2y agonot sure what you find misleading?
- karaterobot 2y agoWhy is it worth noting in this context? It seems like an unrelated observation. The original commenter is clearly in the U.S., so you're telling them something that doesn't help them at all.
- HDThoreaun 2y agoCompounded drugs are only legally available when the fda declares there is a shortage. Once novo nordisk shows that they can make enough of it buying compounded versions will be illegal.
- loeg 2y agoTirzepatide is out of FDA-declared shortage but somehow Semaglutide isn't: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-clarifies-policies-compounders-national-glp-1-supply-begins-stabilize https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-c... But expect it to be soon.
- thrance 2y agoThe issue is not with manufacturing costs, Ozempic is €83 in France for example, because there is a single buyer for every drugs (namely the Assurance Maladie, a state apparatus).
- petesergeant 2y agoNow Mounjaro is out, Ozempic can only really compete on price, which has to be adding downward pressure