<< For the Umpteenth time (sigh), the prices you are talking about are US retail prices, not worldwide wholesale prices........................As I've already stated, The copaxone ASP varies widely by geography and channel.>>
I do appreciate the time and effort to help educate me. I'm sorry it is so very frustrating. If it's any consolation, I feel the same pain. Just one last time, and then I will concede the last word to you as moderator of this fine board.
My original post was to counter argue against two points made by genisi and yourself. The first was that Tysabri was priced 2 fold more than Copaxone. The second that Copaxone was "cleaning Tysabri's clock".
With regards to the pricing, it is impossible to argue, IMO, that Tysabri is CURRENTLY price 2X Tysabri because that was the approx. price difference upon initial launch of Tysabri four years ago. Since that time there has been less than a 10% CUMULATIVE price increase for Tysabri and an aprrox. 20% YEARLY price increase for Copaxone. I don't fault Teva for doing so. Neither do I fault the interferon sponsors from following suit. The point is that there is no longer a massive disparity between the pricing of these MS products. AND that MOST of the sales growth in the entire MS market over the last 4 years has not been from a massive increase in the unit numbers of MS patients under treatment but by PRICE INCREASES. You only have to look at this years' 42% US sales growth versus the 10.5% unit growth to understand the concept. Additionally I do not believe that the market share of the CRAB's has changed materially over the last few years. Yes, Copaxone has probably gained a few points in relation to the interferons, but probably in the low to mid single digits.
You have set up a strawman (ASP) to counter point. The ASP has probably increased in line with the retail prices (at least in the US). Because neither Tysabri nor Copaxone is easily substitutable with another product, a good deal of the leverage by "distributors" is lost, IMO.
To be sure, I do sometimes make mistakes and 'get it wrong'. If anyone can show me 30-40% ASP price differences for either product in the US, I will humbly give a MEA CULPA.
To the second point, "Copaxone is cleaning Tysabri's clock", said quote makes great copy, but is pure hyperbole, IMO.
The unit sales numbers tell the story. Copaxone increased its unit sales 10.5% for the entire YEAR in the US. A good effort for a mature product, and in doing so, probably gained a point or two in market share over the interferons. Tysabri increased in unit sales by nearly 100% (20,000 to 37,600) over 2008 and 6% in the 4th Quarter. To be sure, the sales growth fell considerably during the second half of the year. This was not due to some brilliant new marketing strategy of TEVA or new found wonders of Copaxone, but due to the confirmed cases of PML and a change in Tysabri's perceived risk/benefit profile.
Lastly, the concept of "Copaxone cleaning Tysabri's clock" suggests a direct competition between the two products. In reality, more times than not, there is no direct competiton, IMO. Tysabri's label is essentially for 2nd line use, with the exception of severe cases under the care of the treating neurologist. Thus, there is very little competiton between Tysabri and the CRAB's for the treatment naive patient. Tysabri's current share of the treatment naive population is 5%, exactly the same as last year. Tysabri base of patients comes from the 90,000 patients that switch off or between CRABS YEARLY. More often than not, the typical Tysabri patient has already failed Copaxone and one or more of the interferons.
That concludes my rant on this thread. Again, I will concede any concluding remarks to our moderator.
I would like to start a new thread....... Raptiva and PML.....
Any opinions as to how these latest safety issues might effect future immunosuppressive drugs to come before the FDA, specifically FTY-720 and Cladribine??
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