I think there are a few things that need to be considered in your estimate. If $120,000 is the list price for treatment with the DCVax's, what does it cost to make it, and how much are they willing to discount that price when negotiating with insurance companies, govt. entities, etc. I hate to say it, but the prices in the medical industry remind me of the used car dealers, the list price is practically meaningless.
Don't get me wrong, I believe the vaccines will be blockbuster earners, but the actual earnings won't be anywhere close to the list price times the number of patients receiving the vaccines.
As a leukemia patient I really have no idea of what's actually been paid for my treatment, but cash out of pocket is insignificant, and I just can't believe the insurance plus medicare have paid anywhere close to the list price for all my treatment. That said, I do have more insurance than most, as I'm still covered by my own insurance from work, as well as my wife's, but I believe it made little difference. A hospital may bill $100 for administering an aspirin, but what they're paid isn't divulged. As I see it, the cost of the aspirin is insignificant, and the size of the staff providing it would remain the same, whether it was ordered, or not, but I'm sure they're paid, just nowhere near the $100 which might be shown for administering it.
I believe if Doctors were permitted to treat IAW their best judgement, not what accountants insisted on, the cost of the drugs administered might be higher, but the overall costs would come down dramatically based on more effective treatment resolving problems faster, and the lower costs of not employing so many accountants and attorneys in the practice of healthcare.
I believe there is plenty of money to be made in healthcare with substantially lower prices that are negotiated, and which all the insurance companies, etc. pay. The key is simplifying the manner in which healthcare is administered. It shouldn't take all sorts of paperwork for a Dr. to justify why one drug is being used vs. something else.
Many Doctor's are going to providing concierge services where they do accept medicare, and you're insurance, but you pay a fee for being treated by them, or for extra treatment from them. I don't know how much this would change if we went to some sort of Medicare for all, but something none of the candidates discussing it have addressed is that those of us on Medicare have it administered by an Insurance company or HMO. Is that the way they invision Medicare, or do those companies completely go away, and if so, what about all their facilities. During another time in my life my healthcare was by an HMO, Permanente, they have facilities all over California, and in other states, what happens to all of that if they're put out of business by Medicare.
I know Doctors who've retired from Permanente, I believe their pensions may be tied to the company remaining in business. What happens to all of this, and all the Doctor's working their now who I believe are considered owners of the company if the company goes away.
I do believe that all should have medical coverage, but I believe our politicians need to spend significant time in determining how this can be done equitably. In the end, I believe it's the accountants and attorneys that should have diminished income from healthcare, not the medical professionals. The drug makers may earn less from each product, but if their products are the best solution to a problem, they'll sell more of them as Doctors won't have to try something cheaper, and less effective, first.
Gary
