Nickname: chazz

Review: $50,000 a year to save my life when nothing else can is a good investment. The question is can it? I agree with his comments on generics. They must be held to a high standard.

Date reviewed: Mar 24, 2006 8:59 PM

Nickname: PharmaFool

Review: He didn't say anything about raising the price of Avastin. Lung cancer and breast cancer patients require twice as much Avastin per dose as colon cancer patients. Therefore, the "price" for them is more expensive, but it's not as if Genentech is charging more -- the per-vial price of Avastin is the same. SUVs don't get a discount on the gas price because their gas tanks are twice as big as a compact car. They pay the same price per gallon -- but they have to pay more because they use more.

Date reviewed: Mar 24, 2006 2:43 PM

Nickname: CH

Review: Not sure I understand the comment on health insurance. Two things I think he failed to consider: 1) 40% of us may get cancer, but that is thoughout our lives, not per year 2) If we get treated with Avastin, it is not every year for the rest of our lives. Therefore, the average healthcare costs will not go up $20K per year per person. It will be much smaller than that.

Date reviewed: Mar 22, 2006 11:29 PM

Nickname: JH

Review: His circular logic is impressive. A few points: - Most of his patients have insurance because the uninsured don't get preventative care and aren't diagnosed with cancer early enough to be candidates for treatment -- they just die. His "look at access" and attempts at patient assistance plans are invalidated by this. - Even if the copay for most patients is $129 -- our employers and insurers are still paying the balance. If it costs 50K/year to treat the 40% of us he says will get cancer (and the only treatment they get is the drug), the average insurance premium will be over $20K per year -- and that's unsustainable. - If he sells 2X as much drug, his production costs will double, but so will his revenues even if the price of the drug stays the same. Why does he need to raise the price to cover the production costs? Businessweek should be ashamed for not asking tougher questions to this CEO!

Date reviewed: Mar 22, 2006 6:15 PM

Nickname: Me

Review: CEO said selling twice is much means costs are twice as much - No economies of scale???

Date reviewed: Mar 21, 2006 6:21 PM