Posted by drummer (209.105.134.219) on December 16, 1999 at 07:08:15:
I posted last night about how Pharmaceutical Companies are NOT regulated as to what they can charge for various medicines. I used Glaxo Wellcome as an example with their medicine called Imitrex. I sited Imitrex injections average wholesale price as $110.42. Dorothy responded that she found a site where Imitrex injections are less than this price. I have NO doubt that this is true. I’m sure that SOME of you have found that Imitrex injections are SOMETIMES more expensive than $110.42 also. But, on average, the wholesale price of an Imitrex injection kit IS $110.42.
Anyway, Linda Howell responded with a question asking, “why don’t we all write to Glaxo Wellcome”, regarding the price of Imitrex. Ted then responded with an EXCELLENT point about how Glaxo KNOWS that they “corner” the market on us Chers that depend on Imitrex.
Here’s where I find myself being somewhat of a hypocrite. Part of me wants Glaxo to lower their price on Imitrex injections OR to have the FDA step in and regulate the Pharmaceutical Companies ability to charge whatever amount of money they wish for medicines. Another part of me is THANKFUL that Glaxo Wellcome has spent time and money in the research of Imitrex. After all, they are the Company that invented it. Glaxo Wellcome is also the Company that funded Dr. Goadsby’s research on Cluster Headaches. I have to admit that I’m thankful for that too.
I E-mailed Dr. Goadsby last summer and thanked him for discovering my Hypothalamous brain abnormality. He told me to E-mail Glaxo Wellcome because they were the ones who funded his research.
So I have E-mailed Glaxo thanking them for their research, but I haven’t E-mailed them about their costly Imitrex injections. Should I?
I’d appreciate anyone’s thoughts on how to make me less of a hypocrite. Below is a link to the E-mail between me and Goadsby: