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To contextualize this: After this "slash" it is still more expensive in the US ($499/month) than any other Western country by triple or more, even unsubsidized.
by Someone1234 2y ago
To contextualize this: After this "slash" it is still more expensive in the US ($499/month) than any other Western country by triple or more, even unsubsidized.
- Japan/Canada/Switzerland: $150~ USD/month
- Germany/Netherlands: $100~ USD/month
- UK/Sweden/Australia: $90~ USD/month
- France: $80~ USD/month
So when people blame insurance for stuff being expensive, just remember this is straight from the pharma to your front door with zero insurance/PBMs and they're still charging the US 3x+ more than other Western countries.
The main reason why is that other countries won't allow drugs to be sold AT ALL in their markets without negotiating drug prices, regardless of buyer (e.g. private, government, individual). The US doesn't do this.
Semaglutide is cheap to make, and most of the research 20~ years old. The biggest costs come from auto injector pens which aren't required for safe effective delivery (just ask diabetics pre-2015).
- tapland 2y agoCurrent price in Sweden should be about $300-320/mo? Looked this up last week. Starting dosage is lower. You you can find the prices, even on prescription only meds with fixed pricing, on the state-owned pharmacy's website (monopoly until 2009). https://www.apoteket.se/sok/?q=Wegovy https://www.apoteket.se/sok/?q=Wegovy Let me know if it's geoblocked. 10.14 SEK = 1 USD after the USD losing a bit this week so unusually handy conversion :D Coincidentally ~$300/year is the cap for subsidized (prescribed) medications.
- pmdulaney 2y agoIt does surprise me that our President, the great deal maker, shut down the semaglutide knockoffs like Hims.com without negotiating a deal on the namebrand version for the American people.
- renewiltord 2y ago$99/mo from compounders.
- s1artibartfast 2y agoIt always bothers me when people generalize other countries. My understanding is that there is a lot of difference across Europe. Some only have State insurance Some have private insurance in parallel. I would love to see a breakdown by country and their price negotiation scheme.