“Abbott’s Humira set to become world’s top-selling drug”

“Abbott Laboratories’ $9-billion arthritis drug Humira is set to take the crown as the world’s top-selling medicine this year…

The medicine is expected to retain its market-leading position through 2016, by which time it will rack up sales of $11.75 billion….”

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-11/health/chi-abbotts-humira-set-to-become-worlds-topselling-drug-20120411_1_abbott-s-humira-anti-tnf-drugs-rheumatoid-arthritis

Enbrel, a biologic whose patent should expire this year, may have its patent extended 17 more years, the result of an ongoing legal issue that recently got resolved.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/business/amgens-new-enbrel-patent-may-undercut-health-care-plan.html

75% of prescriptions drugs used in the US are generics. The money to be made by pharmaceutical companies is in expensive drugs like biologics. But how long should they be allowed to profit and drive up costs in our health care system? Enbrel became available in 1999, Humira in 2003 – in 2011, each had $3.5 billion in sales in the US. Haven’t they recouped the cost of R&D already, and more, to be spent on R&D for new drugs – or is it about keeping their shareholders happy?

http://www.imshealth.com/deployedfiles/ims/Global/Content/Corporate/Press%20Room/Top-Line%20Market%20Data%20&%20Trends/2011%20Top-line%20Market%20Data/Top_Products_by_Sales.pdf

Biologics have effectively managed RA for many, but as health care costs have risen, and insurance premiums increase, more of health care costs are being shifted to the insuree, the consumer. I pay a reasonable copay now, but how long before my insurer changes to coinsurance for my biologic, with a cost share of 20% or more for a drug that costs nearly $2,000 a month.

RA is a chronic and lifetime condition, will I be able to afford a biologic in future years? And, for the growing number of uninsured — tens of millions Americans — how could they ever afford a biologic?