The Atlantic

[Nopenada]

Secretive marketplaces on the internet!! I am stunned, let me tell you! STUNNED!!

 

[Waterslither]

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

 

[Camlbacker]

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Consider sending the Atlantic a letter that lays out precisely this point. Their coverage in other areas can be quite strong, and a franker conversation about peptides—along with the deep failures of US health care at large—could do a great deal of social good.

 

[mybodyisasewer]

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

I went ahead and did it. No law is going to hold me back, and all this freaking out and hand-wringing accomplishes nothing since folks will keep doing their own thing regardless. What makes everyone so fixated on what other people are up to? Why am I not allowed to make reckless choices?

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

This one really lands close to home for me, since 2 of my friends are on tirz and I have a feeling one of them will lose coverage any day now. I can't say that for certain, and I haven't given her a heads-up, and maybe she already knows the risk herself. But once it happens, do I even have the right to bring it up? Like, would it come off as strange to say "Hey sorry your favorite drug is gone you wanna buy it from me?"

"Meanwhile, Eli Lilly has sued the FDA over whether Reta should be classified as a drug or a biologic, wasting god knows how much money on lawsuits while essentially trying to create a monopoly over a life changing medication for many."

That's only the surface of it. Can you picture how badly they'd squeeze us if they ever cured cancer? Baldness? Cavities?

 

[CMA Pooky]

mybodyisasewer said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

I went ahead and did it. No law is going to hold me back, and all this freaking out and hand-wringing accomplishes nothing since folks will keep doing their own thing regardless. What makes everyone so fixated on what other people are up to? Why am I not allowed to make reckless choices?

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

This one really lands close to home for me, since 2 of my friends are on tirz and I have a feeling one of them will lose coverage any day now. I can't say that for certain, and I haven't given her a heads-up, and maybe she already knows the risk herself. But once it happens, do I even have the right to bring it up? Like, would it come off as strange to say "Hey sorry your favorite drug is gone you wanna buy it from me?"

"Meanwhile, Eli Lilly has sued the FDA over whether Reta should be classified as a drug or a biologic, wasting god knows how much money on lawsuits while essentially trying to create a monopoly over a life changing medication for many."

That's only the surface of it. Can you picture how badly they'd squeeze us if they ever cured cancer? Baldness? Cavities?

Honestly, it wouldn't shock me one bit if a cure for certain types already exists — locked away in some vault — simply because Chemo drugs, Radiotherapy and the like bring in so much money.

 

[Chili777]

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

 

[Nopenada]

CMA Pooky said:

mybodyisasewer said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

I went ahead and did it. No law is going to hold me back, and all this freaking out and hand-wringing accomplishes nothing since folks will keep doing their own thing regardless. What makes everyone so fixated on what other people are up to? Why am I not allowed to make reckless choices?

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

This one really lands close to home for me, since 2 of my friends are on tirz and I have a feeling one of them will lose coverage any day now. I can't say that for certain, and I haven't given her a heads-up, and maybe she already knows the risk herself. But once it happens, do I even have the right to bring it up? Like, would it come off as strange to say "Hey sorry your favorite drug is gone you wanna buy it from me?"

"Meanwhile, Eli Lilly has sued the FDA over whether Reta should be classified as a drug or a biologic, wasting god knows how much money on lawsuits while essentially trying to create a monopoly over a life changing medication for many."

That's only the surface of it. Can you picture how badly they'd squeeze us if they ever cured cancer? Baldness? Cavities?

Honestly, it wouldn't shock me one bit if a cure for certain types already exists — locked away in some vault — simply because Chemo drugs, Radiotherapy and the like bring in so much money.

Consider how much cash has been funneled into cancer research groups across the past 40 years, all in pursuit of a cure. Every walk-a-thon, every one of the countless fundraisers held nationwide. And the sole result? Therapies that shrink the initial tumor but frequently trigger a second cancer in the process. Complete scam.

 

[CMA Pooky]

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

 

[Chili777]

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

I'm with you all the way, man!

 

[Retract8740]

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

That's the reason I haven't switched away from brand-name Mounjaro. Japan probably costs more than elsewhere in Asia, sure, but my tirz runs about $180 USD per month paying out of pocket. Once insurance pays me back, the effective cost drops to roughly $18 USD per month.

I'm eager for Reta to clear approval and reach the market here.

 

[indolent]

Retract8740 said:

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

That's the reason I haven't switched away from brand-name Mounjaro. Japan probably costs more than elsewhere in Asia, sure, but my tirz runs about $180 USD per month paying out of pocket. Once insurance pays me back, the effective cost drops to roughly $18 USD per month.

I'm eager for Reta to clear approval and reach the market here.

Japan's addressable market is tiny, so EL's marketing spend there buys far less efficiency. In the USA, by contrast, 75% of all adults could end up paying for the life of the patent.

US pricing ought to be MUCH cheaper than Japan's. It isn't as though shipping, storage, distribution, or supply-demand logistics would drive up costs.

It baffles me that people pin everything on Big Insurance instead of pinning everything on Big Pharma, which is the party that actually sets the price.

Thank gods for Big Bella.

 

[Smiter]

indolent said:

Retract8740 said:

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

That's the reason I haven't switched away from brand-name Mounjaro. Japan probably costs more than elsewhere in Asia, sure, but my tirz runs about $180 USD per month paying out of pocket. Once insurance pays me back, the effective cost drops to roughly $18 USD per month.

I'm eager for Reta to clear approval and reach the market here.

Japan's addressable market is tiny, so EL's marketing spend there buys far less efficiency. In the USA, by contrast, 75% of all adults could end up paying for the life of the patent.

US pricing ought to be MUCH cheaper than Japan's. It isn't as though shipping, storage, distribution, or supply-demand logistics would drive up costs.

It baffles me that people pin everything on Big Insurance instead of pinning everything on Big Pharma, which is the party that actually sets the price.

Thank gods for Big Bella.

Wait, those two are different?

 

[Nopenada]

Smiter said:

indolent said:

Retract8740 said:

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

That's the reason I haven't switched away from brand-name Mounjaro. Japan probably costs more than elsewhere in Asia, sure, but my tirz runs about $180 USD per month paying out of pocket. Once insurance pays me back, the effective cost drops to roughly $18 USD per month.

I'm eager for Reta to clear approval and reach the market here.

Japan's addressable market is tiny, so EL's marketing spend there buys far less efficiency. In the USA, by contrast, 75% of all adults could end up paying for the life of the patent.

US pricing ought to be MUCH cheaper than Japan's. It isn't as though shipping, storage, distribution, or supply-demand logistics would drive up costs.

It baffles me that people pin everything on Big Insurance instead of pinning everything on Big Pharma, which is the party that actually sets the price.

Thank gods for Big Bella.

Wait, those two are different?

Correct. Pharmaceutical companies handle the research and development, then act as if that gives them the right to rake in billions from medications that only cost pennies to produce—never mind that public tax money already helped fund that R&D from the start.

Meanwhile, major insurers have no interest in parting with the premiums they take in, so they just label pricey life-saving treatments as “elective” whenever they figure they can pull it off without consequences.

 

[Smiter]

Nopenada said:

Smiter said:

indolent said:

Retract8740 said:

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

That's the reason I haven't switched away from brand-name Mounjaro. Japan probably costs more than elsewhere in Asia, sure, but my tirz runs about $180 USD per month paying out of pocket. Once insurance pays me back, the effective cost drops to roughly $18 USD per month.

I'm eager for Reta to clear approval and reach the market here.

Japan's addressable market is tiny, so EL's marketing spend there buys far less efficiency. In the USA, by contrast, 75% of all adults could end up paying for the life of the patent.

US pricing ought to be MUCH cheaper than Japan's. It isn't as though shipping, storage, distribution, or supply-demand logistics would drive up costs.

It baffles me that people pin everything on Big Insurance instead of pinning everything on Big Pharma, which is the party that actually sets the price.

Thank gods for Big Bella.

Wait, those two are different?

Correct. Pharmaceutical companies handle the research and development, then act as if that gives them the right to rake in billions from medications that only cost pennies to produce—never mind that public tax money already helped fund that R&D from the start.

Meanwhile, major insurers have no interest in parting with the premiums they take in, so they just label pricey life-saving treatments as “elective” whenever they figure they can pull it off without consequences.

The situation goes beyond that...A lot of elites are involved in several ventures at once, and because of Vanguard and BlackRock, the people steering most companies are often the same. So even if the business names and the sectors they work in aren't identical, the ones in charge are probably identical.

 

[Nopenada]

Smiter said:

Nopenada said:

Smiter said:

indolent said:

Retract8740 said:

CMA Pooky said:

Chili777 said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

Time and again, mainstream outlets pull the same stunt. In nearly every piece that tries to shed light on the grey market, the barriers and the jacked-up prices that stand between people and these transformative drugs are simply omitted. The tired take goes: "They exist, so you're just robbing Big Pharma." That's flat-out false. I was ready to hand over my money, yet the amount was never sufficient! PBMs, the go-betweens, have the insurance market locked down, and BP couldn't be happier about it. Even going straight to the source costs an arm and a leg. Once the US healthcare system is utterly shattered, what's the fix? You turn to the grey market, and that's exactly where we've ended up. Why can't they see what that says?

That's precisely why I relocated abroad — medications and healthcare simply cost far less beyond the US. Big Pharma's greed and the Insurance Industrial Complex had worn me down!

That's the reason I haven't switched away from brand-name Mounjaro. Japan probably costs more than elsewhere in Asia, sure, but my tirz runs about $180 USD per month paying out of pocket. Once insurance pays me back, the effective cost drops to roughly $18 USD per month.

I'm eager for Reta to clear approval and reach the market here.

Japan's addressable market is tiny, so EL's marketing spend there buys far less efficiency. In the USA, by contrast, 75% of all adults could end up paying for the life of the patent.

US pricing ought to be MUCH cheaper than Japan's. It isn't as though shipping, storage, distribution, or supply-demand logistics would drive up costs.

It baffles me that people pin everything on Big Insurance instead of pinning everything on Big Pharma, which is the party that actually sets the price.

Thank gods for Big Bella.

Wait, those two are different?

Correct. Pharmaceutical companies handle the research and development, then act as if that gives them the right to rake in billions from medications that only cost pennies to produce—never mind that public tax money already helped fund that R&D from the start.

Meanwhile, major insurers have no interest in parting with the premiums they take in, so they just label pricey life-saving treatments as “elective” whenever they figure they can pull it off without consequences.

The situation goes beyond that...A lot of elites are involved in several ventures at once, and because of Vanguard and BlackRock, the people steering most companies are often the same. So even if the business names and the sectors they work in aren't identical, the ones in charge are probably identical.

Yeah, I can see that happening. Take Amazon — one day they might just yank syringes off their marketplace without warning. They never gave a damn about what people shooting IV drugs did with them. But when it comes to protecting their pals at EL, suddenly it's a priority: make grey GLP1s as hard to get as they can, never mind that the FDA is loosening restrictions on other peptides.

 

[spanky2026]

mybodyisasewer said:

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

I went ahead and did it. No law is going to hold me back, and all this freaking out and hand-wringing accomplishes nothing since folks will keep doing their own thing regardless. What makes everyone so fixated on what other people are up to? Why am I not allowed to make reckless choices?

Waterslither said:

Reading big-name outlets churn out sensational pieces about "shady" markets for weight loss drugs is maddening, especially when they hardly mention the actual driver behind those markets. Plenty of folks aren't choosing alternatives out of some thrill-seeking impulse. They're doing it because drugs such as Ozempic and Zepbound carry absurd price tags, insurers repeatedly refuse to cover them, and ordinary people get shut out of treatments that might truly make a difference. At the same time, Eli Lilly is taking the FDA to court over whether Reta ought to be labeled a drug or a biologic, burning who knows how much cash on litigation while basically angling to lock down a monopoly on something that changes lives for many. Eventually, the discussion needs to quit pointing fingers at patients who are desperate and instead start questioning why the official setup keeps access so hard to get.

This one really lands close to home for me, since 2 of my friends are on tirz and I have a feeling one of them will lose coverage any day now. I can't say that for certain, and I haven't given her a heads-up, and maybe she already knows the risk herself. But once it happens, do I even have the right to bring it up? Like, would it come off as strange to say "Hey sorry your favorite drug is gone you wanna buy it from me?"

"Meanwhile, Eli Lilly has sued the FDA over whether Reta should be classified as a drug or a biologic, wasting god knows how much money on lawsuits while essentially trying to create a monopoly over a life changing medication for many."

That's only the surface of it. Can you picture how badly they'd squeeze us if they ever cured cancer? Baldness? Cavities?

Corporate profits are the one thing you can't put at risk—only then is recklessness off the table.

 

[Bioexplorer]

Blame belongs partly with the Government too. The FDA's outdated drug approval process has certainly played a part in why pharmaceuticals cost so much here.