The cost of prescription drugs can seem almost unbelievable, with more than one medicine costing more than a million dollars per year. Despite most people not having to face the full cost of these medications, it is an indication of a rather large problem.
Whether you are getting your meds from a pharmacy, or if they are being administered in a hospital, it could lead to a massive bill. Even if you only have copays with your insurance taking care of the rest, patients in the USA are still paying more than most other countries.
It is possible to save money by buying medicines on the internet, and for that, you need to be sure you check out online pharmacy reviews 2021 to make sure you don’t run into problems. Let’s take a look at some of the staggering prices big pharma wants you to pay for the medicine.
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Zolgensma
The current most expensive drug in the USA is a prescription gene therapy medication. It is used to treat children who are under the age of 2 and suffering from spinal muscular atrophy.
This medicine is only actually given to the patient once, however, the price tag is an almost unbelievable $2,125,000.
Zorkinvy
Used to treat an inherited condition that can lead to premature aging, Zorkinvy is the second most expensive drug available though at quite a considerable discount compared to the number 1. It will cost $1,032,480 per year.
This disease is caused by genetic mutations leading to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke for sufferers while still at a young age. However, this drug does lower the risk of these problems and increases their lifespan by two and a half years on average.
Danyelza
The third most expensive drug, Danyelza, is used to treat patients with high-risk neuroblastoma present in bone or bone marrow. Treatment using this drug costs $977,664.
Almost half of the patients on this drug during one trial experienced complete or partial tumor shrinkage.
Myalept
At a cost of $889,904, Myalept is used to treat people with lipodystrophy who have a leptin deficiency which is causing complications. This illness is a problem with the way in which the body stores fat.
Luxturna
Costing $850,000 for a year of treatment, Luxturna is used for patients with biallelic retinal dystrophy. This gene therapy can be used to save the remaining eyesight in patients affected by this disorder.
Folotyn
Used to treat t-cell lymphoma that has spread in the body, Folotyn costs $793,870 for a year of treatment. It is given to counter relapsed t-cell lymphomas and is normally used when other medications have been tried and have failed.
Brineura
The 7th most expensive drug will cost health insurance or the patient’s family $730,340. This drug is used to slow the loss of the ability to walk in patients suffering from a particular form of Batten disease.
This disease, also known as CLN2, is a childhood disease that is inherited. It can lead to movement and vision problems, cognitive issues, as well as premature death.
Blincyto
Blincyto is used to treat patients with b-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It can be helpful in patients who are in remission though have traces of residual disease remaining. The drug costs $712,672 and has been shown to reduce the risk of relapse.
Ravicti
Costing $695,970, Ravicti helps remove nitrogen from the liver and kidneys. Too much nitrogen can cause a buildup of ammonia in the blood, this can then get into the tissues and brain leading to brain damage, coma, and death. This drug is commonly used in conjunction with a low protein diet and sometimes dietary supplements.
Soliris
Number 10 on our list and a few years ago the most expensive, Soliris is a monoclonal antibody that binds to proteins in the blood. This can be used to prevent the destruction of red blood cells in patients that are suffering from a genetic condition that affects the natural defenses provided by red blood cells. The cost of treatment, when prescribed these meds, will be an average of $678,392 per year.
As you can see from our list the cost of life-saving medicines for certain conditions is horrifying. While many of these conditions are very rare, if you or a member of your family is suffering from this condition and needs this treatment you could face a difficult choice.
Reasons for High Drug Prices
New drugs are very expensive to create. Big pharmaceutical companies sink many hundreds of millions of dollars into the research and development of new pills. They need some way to recoup these costs so that it is worth their while researching new treatments.
These pharmaceutical companies only have a limited amount of time, perhaps less than 20 years, before other companies can manufacturer the same formula. Drug patents give them exclusive rights to manufacture the formula they have created only for a limited amount of time. Even after they have applied for a patent they may not be able to make use of it immediately.
Once the patent has expired, generic versions of the pills can be created at a very low cost. Typically the cost of manufacturing drugs isn’t actually that high, which is why my genetic manufacturers can produce pills for far less than the brand name originals.
It isn’t only a problem with drugs for unusual conditions. Any brand-name medications are typically considerably more expensive than the generic alternatives, even if it has been many years since they were created.
You can save yourself a lot of money by purchasing medications online that are generic. However, not all online pharmacies are legit with many pharmacies looking to scam you. If you buy medications from unreputable sources you could find they do not produce the results you need them to.
To avoid this situation simply check online pharmacy reviews 2021, so that you can continue to make great savings on your medical bills without risking your health further with low-quality drugs.
