What's wrong with the patent laws?

[greeneyes_fan]

Now, I know that patent law and intellectual property law are two different things. However, the recent excitement over extension of intellectual property rights has drawn my attention to a related field

Comments

[ratherastory]

Yet another reason to be happy I live in my province. While it seriously sucks that there's no generic inhaled steroid, at least here no matter what you do there will always be insurance that makes sure you can afford your meds.

Is it me, or is the industrialized world kind of (a lot) broken?

[greeneyes_fan]

Actually, Canada DOES have generic inhaled steroids.

Yet another reason Americans can't afford healthcare: We shoulder the drug-development costs for the entire fucking planet, NOT through research grants, through individual consumers' medication costs. (And the way research gets paid for incentivizes the wrong research, of course.)

Yes, pregnant women in Nigeria should have access to the latest antivirals, but we need a better plan to pay for them. It shouldn't be on small business owners in Nebraska trying to provide their employees with health insurance, breaking under double-digit annual premium increases.

You know what would really help? If more people knew enough math to really understand the connections here, rather than believing that if they clap their hands, we can cure cancer for free.

[ratherastory]

Actually, Canada DOES have generic inhaled steroids.

Hey, good news on that front, then. I haven't had to buy a prescription drug in years (*knocks on wood*) so I wouldn't know.

You know what would really help? If more people knew enough math to really understand the connections here, rather than believing that if they clap their hands, we can cure cancer for free.

Hell, I'm a reasonably educated person and try to stay informed, and I have no idea about what the math is or what all the connections/ramifications are. The information doesn't appear to be anything close to common knowledge.

[greeneyes_fan]

You know, now I want to write a book on it. Or, like, an article of reasonable length, not a whole book. But the fundamental reason that heath care costs go up all the time is that technology improves all the time, which means that more problems can be fixed and more sick people can be saved.

[embroiderama]

The Advair thing is ridiculous. My understanding is that the dispenser mechanism is currently protected while the drugs are not, but one doesn't work without the other. *facepalms* I'm lucky enough to have insurance with prescription coverage, but the first time I refill my Advair each year now I have to pay full price because of the prescription deductible. It's just insanely expensive, so I know I wouldn't be able to afford it without insurance. I really, really hate that so many people don't have access to it because it's so effective and has no side-effects that I've ever noticed.

Anyway, yes, I totally agree with you.

[greeneyes_fan]

Actually, the patent on the Advair diskus expired in 2011. There just isn't a generic available, due to complicated shit I only half understand.

[embroiderama]

Weird! I know there's a generic version of the diskus in other countries, but it's still not super cheap and getting it would require being okay with ordering medicine from India or whatever.

[greeneyes_fan]

The international pharmacies that require you to mail in an actual prescription from your own doctor are reliable. If your insurance is covering MOST of the cost of your Advair, it's probably not worth the hassle, though, as it takes like 3 weeks for shipping.

Apparently another manufacturer was trying to copy it, but failed. And the FDA is cranky about approving generics with special delivery systems (as opposed to plain pills) because you have to get it just right, and prove it's just right.

I actually couldn't tolerate Advair. Lost my voice, didn't sleep, horrible 24-7 acid reflux. (Salmeterol is a stimulant, folks). Still, I'll NEVER give up my Flovent!