Alzheimers mention

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

An interesting read. But like everything else, it comes down to money...

Pfizer had clues its blockbuster drug could prevent Alzheimer’s. Why didn’t it tell the world?

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

Uggg, I really dislike the pharmaceutical companies. My mom has Alzheimer’s and I’m going to look into this drug. Thanks for bringing it to everyone’s attention

[dream'n, BSN, RN]

I just checked the price of of the drug and **** it’s crazy expensive. I’m going to check the price in Mexico

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

It's sad they way they rob us while covered by the copy laws, then abandon the minute it goes out. They upgrade to new and improved. I hope you find something positive for your mom!

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

So what's to stop physicians from using this drug off-label? It's don all the time in other areas of medicine.

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

8 hours ago, hppygr8ful said:

So what's to stop physicians from using this drug off-label? It's don all the time in other areas of medicine.

Cost. My mom was on this med for the correct use, and couldn't afford it despite the help from various foundations. Those that could benefit from use most likely wouldn't be able to either

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

14 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Cost. My mom was on this med for the correct use, and couldn't afford it despite the help from various foundations. Those that could benefit from use most likely wouldn't be able to either

Oh got you - I know the dr put my mom on Nudexta for pseudobulbar affect, 1st month was free with a coupon. Next month it was $8000.00 dollars. So we stopped it. The cost of Alzheimer's care since it's not covered by Medicare is too high as it is. Shame since she paid into the system her whole life.

Hppy

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

1 hour ago, hppygr8ful said:

The cost of Alzheimer's care since it's not covered by Medicare is too high as it is. Shame since she paid into the system her whole life.

Hppy

No one, over 65 especially, should have to worry about the cost of medications or medical care. But that's a rant I best not get started on!

[NurseBlaq]

My great-grandparents and grandmother died from Alzheimer's fairly recent. There should be a class action lawsuit against this type of nonsense. These pham companies are greedy *insert a whole rant cursing & unsuitable for AN here*. I'm livid! ?

[MunoRN, RN]

I'm always happy to join the anti-Big-Pharma bandwagon, but this isn't a story of a legitimate complaint against Big-Pharma.

There's no reliable evidence whatsoever that Enbrel prevents Alzheimer's. A review of insurance claims found that those who take Enbrel are less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's later in life, but it's not a result of taking Enbrel, it's that those who are of the socioeconomic status that can obtain Enbrel coverage are also of the socioeconomic status that we already know as a decreased likelihood of Alzheimer's. Having insurance that covers Enbrel, or the ability to pay out-of-pocket for it, reflects a socioeconomic status associated with lower Alzheimer's risk, it's not the drug itself.

The effect of TNF inhibitors like Enbrel is already well studied (for more than 20 years now) and what we've learned is that increased TNF levels are a symptom of Alzheimer's, not a cause that can be modified to decrease the potential for Alzheimer's. It's fair to say that Pfizer didn't pursue Alzheimer's clinical trials of Enbrel for financial reasons, but that financial reason was that there is no scientific basis for thinking these trials would be of any benefit.

[Nunya, BSN]

If Pfizer really thought Enbrel would work on Alzheimer's I can guarantee they would have spent the $80M. Do you have any idea how much they'd earn if it worked? Waaaay more than what they put into it. The company that develops a med for this disease won't have to develop another med till the patent runs out

[Orion81RN]

33 minutes ago, MunoRN said:

I'm always happy to join the anti-Big-Pharma bandwagon, but this isn't a story of a legitimate complaint against Big-Pharma.

There's no reliable evidence whatsoever that Enbrel prevents Alzheimer's. A review of insurance claims found that those who take Enbrel are less likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's later in life, but it's not a result of taking Enbrel, it's that those who are of the socioeconomic status that can obtain Enbrel coverage are also of the socioeconomic status that we already know as a decreased likelihood of Alzheimer's. Having insurance that covers Enbrel, or the ability to pay out-of-pocket for it, reflects a socioeconomic status associated with lower Alzheimer's risk, it's not the drug itself.

The effect of TNF inhibitors like Enbrel is already well studied (for more than 20 years now) and what we've learned is that increased TNF levels are a symptom of Alzheimer's, not a cause that can be modified to decrease the potential for Alzheimer's. It's fair to say that Pfizer didn't pursue Alzheimer's clinical trials of Enbrel for financial reasons, but that financial reason was that there is no scientific basis for thinking these trials would be of any benefit.

It seems many scientists and researchers disagree. I may have misinterpreted, but it seemed that bc the patent will be running out, that they basically didn't want to put all the money into research that would not benefit them so much as other companies who make it after the patent is up. Basically doing the work for other companies.