Biotech Values

[srsmgja]

<< Tysabri's price/patient/year is 2X higher than Copaxone's. so I suppose that's a good explanation for the Modest 3% price increase>>

<< Quite so! This is another reason srsmgja'a agrument about price increase is a weak one, IMO.

In terms of patient share, Tysabri remains an also-ran drug in the MS market>>.


Actually, I thought my argument was a rather strong one!

I believe you folks are about 3-4 years behind on your pricing. With 3-4 years of large double digit price increases, Copaxone is priced on a monthly basis ALMOST EQUAL to Tysabri.

According to my local hospital and retail pharma the current stated price for a month's supply of Copaxone is $2848.00

According to my wife's last EOB the price for her monthly Tysabri (drug cost) was $2868.95

Now to be complete you need to add the infusion center's cost. Again according to my wife's last EOB the BILLED COST was approx. $700 ............ the contracted amount that the insurance paid to the infusion center was $312

In conclusion, the monthly cost of Copaxone $2848.00

the monthly cost of Tysabri $2868 + $312 = $3180.00


According to TEVA'a conference call the US UNIT SALES increase was 10.5% FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. Tysabri's unit increase for JUST the 4th quater was 6%. ..... and that was admittedly Tysabri's worst quarter as it experienced the full effect of the recent confirmed PML cases.


After just 2 years on the market (actual detailing did not begin until Jan 2007) Tyasbri's market share is 7.5% I believe Copaxone has been on the market for approx. 10+ years.


The focus in the media and marketing has concentrated on safety as this is a chronic disease and patients will potentially be on therapy for decades. This has played to Copaxone's advantage. IF there is no CUMULATIVE risk for long term Tysabri use ( and we will get a reasonable look at this over the next 6 months), then I believe the focus will shift more towards the efficacy side of the equation or a more balanced risk/reward. IF that happens, Tysabri will outperform Copaxone, IMO.



PS. Dew - thanks for your warm welcome