I was told by my mail order pharmacy that the prices change according to how the stock market for the drug is doing at the time. Yes, I find it all very sad too.

Going on memory, which isn't THAT great , Avonex was the first of that type of interferon that was researched and put on the market. (Betaseron was already on the market, but a different type of interferon.) Biogen came along with Rebif, and virtually all they had to do was double the dosage, run a 6 month trial to prove increased efficacy, and that was enough to get it on the market. (They eventually carried on with the two year, then a 4 yr trail though ...).

The makers of Avonex put up a pretty good fight that they had a patent on that interferon, but Biogen won the fight based on interim efficacy numbers. In the end, I think Rebif didn't prove to much more effective, but the patent was broken by that point anyway . . .

It seems that neurologists (and insurance companies) make their "recommendations" based on affiliations more than anything else. All of the CRABs have basically the same efficacy, so it doesn't really matter what they recommend or cost. Ultimately the decision is often based on tolerance though.

Cherie

I think a phone call from your doctor will clear this up. All the drugs are discounted.

Beta 1b - betaseron, was approved first. In August 1993 (I drew number ~ 27,000 in the lottery for it). Beta 1a - Rebif and Avonex, came later. COP II - copaxone, I think came last in the approval process. And yeap, there was a COP I. There's also some 30 other drugs that were in trials at the same time that didn't make the FDA cut.

They all have roughly the same efficacy, so I can't see why an insurance company would lean one way or the other unless they're getting a skewed discount on any particular day.

Tom

Thanks you guys! I thought it was just me! I called the doc they are putting in a request for an appeal and hopefully by the new year I can have my meds. The doc wants the Rebif as opposed to the copax because he has seen better results with his own patients. But again my choices are limited to 3 I don't think the insurance company who I pay for every month should have a right to tell me no.

Really? Wow.

I don't understand any of the red tape and how this all works... but I get my medication through a pharmacy (walk in) and I'm covered by my work insurance + a copay from the Copaxone assistance program.

I never saw a change in the cost of my medication versus the stock market. Is it a quarterly or annual change? That's rather interesting...

I just went and looked on the NYSE. It can change daily,hourly, etc.. Look at this
http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcd...ml?ticker=TEVA