I just did a rough calculation . . .

If there are currently 25,000 people on Tysabri (6% of PwMS in the US), at an average cost of $75,000 per patient, the health care costs for that new drug alone are astronomical:

25,000
$75,000
$1,875,000,000 per YEAR

That doesn't include steroid treatments, twice per year MRI's, several phone calls and visits to doctors and neurologists, etc.

We have a ridiculously expensive disease to treat, and once the R&D is paid, the pharma's are making HUGE profits off us. Perhaps this is where the anger should be directed!?

If we want to reduce costs, this can be partially in our control too by not incurring unnecessary costs. For example, do we really need to know if we have one more lesion every 6 months (new MRI)? Do we need to get back to work one week earlier by using steroids every time? Do we need to reduce our average of 1.5 relapses every two years by 68% (instead of 30% with the CRABs) vs. 0% with no drugs . . .?

Part of the philosophy behind a "user pays/co-pay" approach is to put some amount of onus on the "user" to make reasonably cost-effective decisions . . . or PAY.

(Not saying this is my opinion, as I sit in my ivory tower not having to pay any costs for anything . . . I'm just saying that's how it works in a capitalist economy).

Cherie