New from @davidarmstrongx.bsky.social: When I was diagnosed with cancer, I set out to understand why a single pill of Revlimid cost the same as a new iPhone. I’ve covered high drug prices as a reporter for years. What I discovered shocked even me.
Replies
I’ve known of course of the ruthless greed of pharmaceutical companies (since insulin was sold for $1 as a gift to the world and now is out of reach for many) but this detailed story of a company finding the hard work done and parlayed it into stratospheric profits is still mind blowing.
may 8, 2025, 3:53 pm • 2 0 • view
Wow! And not surprising. Greed runs America.
may 8, 2025, 3:59 pm • 2 0 • view
I have multiple myeloma, and I take Revlimid as well. A 14 pill bottle cost $14,000. I was absolutely floored.
may 8, 2025, 2:18 pm • 3 0 • view
for me I'm on a 3 week off a week schedule, 20mg was $28k I was just dropped to 10mg and it's roughly $23k.. I'm in partial remission still after a year post chemo treatment.
may 9, 2025, 10:55 am • 1 0 • view
Pure capitalism at work. Captive audience who has to choose how much they will pay to survive. Yep regulation is bad. /S
may 8, 2025, 1:45 pm • 3 1 • view
In America there is the very real option to just die.
may 8, 2025, 1:34 pm • 7 0 • view
I don’t have cancer & just one of my medications is $14,800 per month. I’m a long term money pit well aware that this regime in particular prefers me dead. I’m too expensive
may 8, 2025, 5:23 pm • 1 0 • view
The cancer industry is disgusting. There is no drive to cure cancer- there’s too much money in keeping people sick.
may 8, 2025, 3:42 pm • 0 0 • view
Average cost in Europe is $2,250 per month. In Finland $170 a month. USA healthcare just buries people financially. Ridiculous.
may 8, 2025, 3:45 pm • 1 0 • view
In the UK the cost for prescription drugs is £0 for those with such illnesses. Those who are on benefits also pay £0 , Everyone else pays £10 per prescription a flat rate (except in scotland where it is also £0 for all.)
may 8, 2025, 2:02 pm • 39 7 • view
Yep, it’s $31.60 for 28 pills over here.
may 8, 2025, 10:21 pm • 1 0 • view
Absolutely atrocious, You all deserve better
may 9, 2025, 7:51 pm • 0 0 • view
I'm a little nervous as I just received a positive test on my cologuard test. Hopefully it's nothing. But I'm already having issues with my insurance for my torn rotator cuff. Have been waiting forever. Keep getting denied. WTF. America were we the people are disposable. Shouldn't be this hard. ✊🏻✊🏿✊🏾
may 8, 2025, 2:57 pm • 0 0 • view
We are disposable unless we are a profit center
may 8, 2025, 3:05 pm • 1 1 • view
Exactly. We are numbers not people. Resist ✊️
may 9, 2025, 1:35 pm • 0 0 • view
my insurance left my torn rotator cuff injury alone 21 yrs and just did a few steroid injections and I keep tearing it no surgery will ever be done I now have a frozen shoulder.
may 9, 2025, 10:59 am • 1 1 • view
This should never happen in the richest country in the world. Only are representatives get those kinds of benefits. You know. The ones allow you to live a happy and healthy life. Financially secure full health insurance great benefits with the ability to take bribes to enrich themselves. Fascist. ✊🏻
may 9, 2025, 1:32 pm • 0 0 • view
This is why we can't have a single payer healthcare system in America. Big pharma and gov have been cooking the books for years, raking in outrageous profits for a few clinical trials and good patent attorneys. What does this drug cost in countries with universal single payer systems?
may 8, 2025, 11:59 am • 110 8 • view
A few euros, not enough to make a dent in anyone's finances -because the patent ended. Other drugs are making a killing as we speak. And I'm fully in favor of the drug industry being very profitable. What's a worthy endeavor if not saving lives and lessening suffering? Just not like this.
may 8, 2025, 12:17 pm • 24 0 • view
I too understand the cost of research and the need for reasonable profits but shouldn't the burden be applied unilaterally. Why isn't it? My thought is that countries with universal healthcare push back on outrageous pricing. US does not because many hands want a pieces of the profit pie.
may 8, 2025, 12:26 pm • 28 3 • view
The cost of research for many of these drugs are backed and funded by the US government; they are not boot strapping funding A lot of research is done at the University and non-profit level, then taken up by Pharma to produce Instead of $400b in profits, they'll be ok with $300b.
may 8, 2025, 1:52 pm • 2 0 • view
15-30% of total company revenue is the norm for R+D costs, about 2 billion to bring a drug to market. Much of it relies on a foundation of basic research done by universities and government though. R+D costs overlap somewhat with FDA approval costs.
may 8, 2025, 2:13 pm • 1 0 • view
Exactly. The word is "reasonable profits." There's nothing wrong with making a profit, til it becomes greed. Our government used to tell Big Business what they could do or not do. Gov'mt kept prices down & broke up monopolies. Lobby money buys lots of legislation & Big Pharma has lots to spend.
may 8, 2025, 2:44 pm • 3 0 • view
Here all drug prices are set by the government. If the suppliers don't like it, they can't do much. They can refuse to sell to the NHS (the only buyer), but then the government will restrict their access to the entire market or even ban them. Overcharging and dominating the market are both illegal.
may 8, 2025, 1:05 pm • 27 2 • view
That sounds like a government who is looking out for its citizens. As it should be. Not like here were the citizens suffer at the hands of greedy insurance, pharma, politicians, etc. We are less healthy and insurance poor.
may 8, 2025, 3:12 pm • 2 0 • view
True. Here we have different problems. Everything's so regulated that everyone spends lots of time essentially passing official docs around in circles. No one's left with enough time to do the actual work that needs doing. Socialists have a penchant for bureaucracy. Ideally, there'd be more balance.
may 8, 2025, 3:43 pm • 1 0 • view
👍
may 8, 2025, 4:41 pm • 1 0 • view
Here in America, your health insurance can approve a procedure then un-approve it months later and then stick you with the bill. Nothing is illegal here if you’re an insurance company.
may 8, 2025, 1:46 pm • 27 1 • view
The USA has a health insurance mafia. That's literally what it is. They provide no value. It's just a racket. Here, in comparison, we have health insurance, but they are only allowed to provide *value-added* services (so, "extras"). And that's the key. Everything essential is beyond their purview.
may 8, 2025, 1:49 pm • 19 1 • view
America, where a guy who flunked out of high school but answers phones for an insurance company can deny the treatment plan your trained medical doctor recommends.
may 8, 2025, 1:56 pm • 15 2 • view
What IF we - the world - would publicly fund research the labs? What if the health of 7+ billion was NOT FOR PROFIT! Cause we say this to nurses all the time, do it for love of the patient, not for paychecks. The researchteams do not do it for money, they do it for science. Another way is possible.
may 9, 2025, 5:27 pm • 3 0 • view
Sadly, all the scheming and manipulation serves one purpose and it’s not to save lives and fight cancer. This twisted fixation to accumulate wealth is just another kind of cancer.
may 8, 2025, 2:19 pm • 3 1 • view
There's no $ to be made in curing cancer. Big Pharma Doctors Researchers Labs Big Insurance Nurses Charities Lobbyists All segments would be severely impacted. Someone change my mind (Please)
may 8, 2025, 12:29 pm • 2 3 • view
Cancer is not a singular disease, so there will be no singular cure. Cervical cancer has been all but eliminated in the cohort of people who received the HPV vaccination series. Researchers don't make significant salaries. But the large pharmaceutical companies, no doubt that they're price gouging
may 8, 2025, 12:37 pm • 5 0 • view
Just a little old thang called greed.
may 8, 2025, 11:35 am • 23 1 • view
thinking of Pharma price gouging for the heck of it, the ones who did it right in front of everyone's face - and went to prison for doing it - were telling the public what was happening. and he's still the only one who went to jail.
may 8, 2025, 3:03 pm • 0 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 1:09 pm • 0 0 • view
📌
may 9, 2025, 12:26 am • 1 0 • view
For-profit healthcare driven by greed.. capitalism at its worst.
may 8, 2025, 1:16 pm • 6 0 • view
This is a long article and everyone needs to read it. You all need to know this information.
may 8, 2025, 2:32 pm • 1 0 • view
What is the purchase price in Canada?
may 8, 2025, 4:07 pm • 2 0 • view
A must-read. America is just a nightmare
may 8, 2025, 2:39 pm • 2 0 • view
President Biden was fighting the pharmaceutical companies for price gauging Wish he was still our President!
may 8, 2025, 3:54 pm • 4 1 • view
Complete outrage!
may 8, 2025, 4:21 pm • 2 0 • view
The price of life…
may 8, 2025, 12:35 pm • 4 1 • view
I have asthma. At one point I was paying out of pocket for multiple meds. My ex called it "lung rent."
may 8, 2025, 4:18 pm • 2 0 • view
I'm in an organization called "Patients for affordable drugs now". You can check them out at p4adnow.org.
may 8, 2025, 4:59 pm • 2 0 • view
Patient’s, the scourge of the pharmaceutical industry.
may 9, 2025, 4:02 am • 0 0 • view
Because they can.
may 9, 2025, 3:41 am • 1 0 • view
Profit
may 9, 2025, 3:37 am • 1 0 • view
IN CASE YOU THINK MONEY DOESN'T DRIVE HEALTH CARE, READ THIS AND WEEP.
may 8, 2025, 1:19 pm • 7 0 • view
A remarkable and well-written story. Every day I find new ways to appreciate ProPublica. Keep up the important work!
may 8, 2025, 6:26 pm • 3 0 • view
I am on Medicare and on maintenance lenalidomide. Last year my out of pocket was $8000 which I reached by April. This year it’s $2K (fully paid in January) thanks to Biden’s change. This article makes me so angry. We do not qualify for help from anyone.
may 8, 2025, 3:40 pm • 6 1 • view
Lenalidomide is generic for Revlimid
may 14, 2025, 4:27 am • 1 0 • view
When Wellcare switched my coverage from Rev to lena, I was appalled that the cost was still outrageously high and that a 10 mg pill costs as much as the 25 mg pill. Who sets the price gouging for these oncology meds? WTF!!!
may 14, 2025, 3:33 pm • 0 0 • view
My Dr called in a prescription for a prescription for a generic medication of Farsega They didn’t have it in stock. I didn’t know he added it to my meds. It was 1600$.That’ the whole SS check I get.I canceled it . If I can’t eat my blood sugar with go down without it. I guess the plan is to die. 🤦🏻♀️
may 8, 2025, 12:16 pm • 5 0 • view
Time to move to Australia then ;) - it's $50 for a 28 pack here at full retail, cheaper with other benefits.
may 8, 2025, 12:21 pm • 4 0 • view
It’s been time to move to ANY other country for a while. I hate it here. Can’t afford the flight 🤷♀️
may 8, 2025, 12:26 pm • 3 0 • view
Yeah, I get that - GoFundMe et al are used far too often to support those in need because of this BS :(.
may 8, 2025, 12:29 pm • 2 0 • view
Not begging for money on internet. Let the drug companies stop advertising this 💩 and charge less. BTW, the advertising is the reason I don’t want to take it. 😳 The side effects scare me more. Not asking my Dr about Farsiga, ozempic… Bet y’all aren’t seeing those commercials constantly.
may 8, 2025, 2:45 pm • 3 0 • view
Pharma ads in Australia are illegal, so no, we see none of that nonsense.
may 9, 2025, 1:05 am • 3 0 • view
Starting a go fund me for airfare to Australia I hear the scenery is nice there too!
may 9, 2025, 1:37 am • 1 0 • view
Sanctioned corporate greed over people's health is under the microscope as it very well should be.
may 9, 2025, 2:08 am • 7 0 • view
may 8, 2025, 3:49 pm • 0 0 • view
When you can manufacture a drug for 25 cents a pill but you charge 1k a day for that pill it is unconscionable greed.
may 8, 2025, 12:40 pm • 38 4 • view
and this article explains how the drug company who owns the patent didn't even do the research to develop it in the first place!
may 8, 2025, 2:23 pm • 2 0 • view
Big Pharma has to pay for their politicians some way!
may 8, 2025, 1:22 pm • 12 0 • view
Doctors get kickbacks as well!
may 8, 2025, 1:25 pm • 8 0 • view
Not anymore. The private equity firms that have bought the private practices are raking in the cash and changing the model. This is why it’s spiraling
may 9, 2025, 1:48 pm • 1 0 • view
And their ridiculous ads!
may 8, 2025, 4:46 pm • 3 0 • view
When even the experts are shocked, you know the system is broken. Life-saving meds shouldn’t be priced like luxury tech. Thank you for shining a light on this, even in such a personal moment. 🙏📢
may 8, 2025, 2:02 pm • 2 0 • view
Truly shocking
may 8, 2025, 11:58 am • 2 0 • view
Anyone insured pays for these prices through increased premiums and it's what insurance companies are trying to manage but are instead treated as the monsters in the business. I've spent years wondering how the business that pays these unprecedented costs became the bad guy.
may 8, 2025, 4:47 pm • 1 0 • view
The OOP cost of other life-changing drugs is crazy too. Autoimmune medications cost 3k-6k per injection. People usually take those bimonthly or so. Pharma in this country is so fucked. It won’t get any better with all of the research not being funded.
may 8, 2025, 3:30 pm • 0 0 • view
This story is absolutely, and unequivocally the description of the current administration and what they are doing to the American people.
may 8, 2025, 9:12 pm • 12 0 • view
Greetings and well wishes from Little Rock, Arkansas 💙 Keep up the good work! If you’ve a few minutes, maybe check out my snarky review on an astounding article by your Joseph Kaplan: open.substack.com/pub/noelkeit...
may 8, 2025, 3:51 pm • 3 1 • view
It cost $2,000,000.00 to save me from non Hodgkin's lymphoma. My clinical trial drug was $500,000.00 my stem cell transplant was $300,000, the rest was chemotherapy. It is expensive to be a cancer patient.
may 9, 2025, 12:04 pm • 1 1 • view
Other countries negotiate drug prices; the United States, under Biden negotiated Rx prices; trump negotiated higher prices go insulin! He’s got stock in every pharmaceutical on the planet, or, pharmaceuticals have also bought trump🧌
may 8, 2025, 1:09 pm • 3 0 • view
This is not only big Pharma, but it’s all of corporate America and at the expense of the working people !
may 9, 2025, 12:26 am • 3 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 1:51 pm • 0 0 • view
Neither side did anything to change or limit Citizens United. Corporations now own 99% of our elected officials. Unless ur wealthy, most Americans feel unrepresented & unheard. It's why Trump won. It's why Saving Democracy/Capitalism means little to many Americans. Write about that.
may 8, 2025, 3:15 pm • 2 0 • view
When we follow the money, it’s startling to see who profits off the pain. Thank you for your important work.
may 8, 2025, 12:20 pm • 12 2 • view
Oh these billionaires are 1000% of the problem
may 8, 2025, 3:18 pm • 2 0 • view
Amazing article! Thank you for sharing your findings.
may 8, 2025, 11:45 am • 8 0 • view
may 8, 2025, 9:53 pm • 4 0 • view
I am so thankful for living in Canada. I had a brain tumour - had brain surgery and ended up having brain cancer and paid nothing. I hate to mention it , I am truly sorry. Cost is just another injustice and burden you shouldn’t have to deal witjy.
may 9, 2025, 5:34 am • 5 0 • view
The richest men in the world want you to die poor & in the streets. The insurance industry is oppression.
may 8, 2025, 3:02 pm • 34 0 • view
Pharma is right there, too
may 8, 2025, 3:04 pm • 15 0 • view
Guess what? That whole UNREGULATED health and wellness industry y'all are so enamored with and obsessed about has FOUR TIMES higher profit margins than the REGULATED "big pharma" you've allowed them to demonize in your minds. It's wild to see how absolutely stupid so many people are
may 8, 2025, 4:02 pm • 6 0 • view
If you read the article, it's Celgene literally breaking the law to keep the prices high, not the insurance company.
may 8, 2025, 4:00 pm • 0 0 • view
Thanks for a valiant attempt at making me look bad. My statement stands. Now go do something worthwhile.
may 8, 2025, 4:02 pm • 1 0 • view
Please read the article. It's worthwhile
may 8, 2025, 4:10 pm • 0 0 • view
They all deserve to be Luigied.
may 8, 2025, 3:10 pm • 22 0 • view
Hopefully something slightly less drastic😬!
may 8, 2025, 4:37 pm • 1 0 • view
I'm ok either way
may 8, 2025, 5:08 pm • 0 0 • view
It's just what we already knew. Big Pharma are criminals.
may 8, 2025, 4:55 pm • 2 0 • view
The US has become a farm where we are milked of our wealth for the sake of good health.. Remember that time we were called The Great Satan? Yeah...
may 8, 2025, 1:54 pm • 2 0 • view
This is an amazing article. Drug pricing and patents are in need of serious reform.
may 8, 2025, 7:31 pm • 3 0 • view
Note that main stream media will never be critical of drug companies. MSM is dependent on drug advertising.
may 8, 2025, 4:40 pm • 1 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 3:34 pm • 2 0 • view
💔😞
may 9, 2025, 1:48 am • 1 0 • view
The cost in Australia is $31.70 or $7.90 for pensioners. I know that to Americans, it has the taint of socialised medicine, but wow, it's what caring, compassionate societies do.
may 9, 2025, 6:54 am • 22 2 • view
Yes!
may 9, 2025, 7:05 pm • 0 0 • view
Wow! Thank you for posting this!
may 9, 2025, 12:05 am • 1 0 • view
These drug company executives deserve to end up in hell
may 8, 2025, 1:12 pm • 68 4 • view
Or a Salvadorian prison.
may 8, 2025, 2:47 pm • 17 0 • view
They deserve to be Luigied
may 8, 2025, 11:25 pm • 0 0 • view
Just wow!😳😔😡 How those people sleep at night, I have no clue.
may 8, 2025, 5:11 pm • 3 0 • view
Letting an infection that borks up the immune and cardiovascular system which then borks up the body continue to run unchecked means big money. Which is why NIOSH is gone and the biggest liars now run NIH and vaccine inquiry, and people get sicker so pharmaceutical companies can get bank.
may 8, 2025, 2:25 pm • 1 0 • view
If I get cancer...I'm just going to have to die, can't afford that. Hell I can barely afford to pay all of my taxes on my social security!
may 8, 2025, 12:10 pm • 7 0 • view
Paying for healthcare, imagine that.
may 8, 2025, 8:51 pm • 1 0 • view
"Do you have cancer? I'm sorry....now stick 'em up!"
may 8, 2025, 11:57 am • 20 0 • view
Corporate greed has been killing people. This should not ever happen.
may 9, 2025, 12:26 pm • 1 0 • view
It's all about the money...
may 8, 2025, 12:37 pm • 1 0 • view
sobering, and probably reflects the general attitude of economic exploitation by big pharma.
may 8, 2025, 3:59 pm • 3 0 • view
Republican politicians see disease as extremely profitable. They made billions from Covid and sent millions of people into medical debt.
may 8, 2025, 11:56 am • 50 1 • view
And the expense of millions of poor Americans lives in the process was deemed an acceptable and moral loss by the billionaires calling the shots who made all the profit.
may 8, 2025, 1:51 pm • 0 0 • view
Then they lied about it.
may 8, 2025, 1:48 pm • 1 0 • view
Body bags brought to you by ivanka trumpf
may 8, 2025, 1:48 pm • 7 1 • view
The reason is pure greed. They prey on your desire to live and the corrupt PBMs to give you the shaft. Why do we pay so much more than any other developed nation in the world= greed. All these ads on TV, if you look cost 80k to 250k and that is absurd. Pharma now spends more on advertising than R&D
may 8, 2025, 4:20 pm • 3 1 • view
Thank you for this expose. Amgen, makers of Enbrel which I take, has their own history. That drug, the first biologic in the early 2000s. should be generic by now. They fought it in court and delayed another company till 2029. That drug now costs over $7K/month.
may 9, 2025, 9:54 am • 3 1 • view
That same medication in Brazil costs $200/month (BRL 1200 in local currency). We have a heath agency that limits the price of medication. You can also get this medication for free through our public health system.
may 9, 2025, 11:49 am • 0 1 • view
file this one under CORPORATIONS VS. CITIZENS. #GodblessLuigiMangione
may 8, 2025, 1:39 pm • 3 0 • view
I just got my second shot of eight and the price of $17,000.00. This drug has been out for 50 years but they tweak it every 7 years to keep the patent. Cancer is not for the weak or the poor.
may 8, 2025, 3:40 pm • 4 0 • view
The Gouging is beyond comprehension and sickening.
may 8, 2025, 11:52 am • 16 1 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 12:05 pm • 0 0 • view
I had a neurologist prescribe a pharmaceutical for migraines that cost $11,000.00 per prescription ... so there was not a chance of having the prescription filled. Migraines are still an issue and shall remain so ...
may 8, 2025, 12:35 pm • 4 0 • view
Disgusting……exploiting an old drug to make billions…..Rep Katie Porter was right….Pharmaceuticals have just gotten better at price gouging…..and they wonder why they have no credibility
may 8, 2025, 2:25 pm • 0 0 • view
If I could only afford my ADHD meds.
may 8, 2025, 12:41 pm • 3 0 • view
And they will “tweek” it again as soon as this drug’s patent expires.
may 8, 2025, 7:40 pm • 2 0 • view
If I ever get cancer I’ll get zero treatment. I might start a heroin habit. Seems cheaper and more effective. Lol.
may 9, 2025, 5:11 am • 3 0 • view
In the 2000's a Senator set up a LEGAL KICKBACK scheme with the drug cos. They REWARD (kickback) funds to the health plans for drugs on their formularies and also reward hospitals and providers. PBMs get a cut, too. It's BILLIONS of dollars. Who pays? The consumers. We pay for these kickbacks.
may 8, 2025, 3:22 pm • 0 0 • view
may 8, 2025, 12:29 pm • 1 1 • view
Excellent article. I wish you much healing and diminishing pain. Thank you.
may 8, 2025, 3:37 pm • 3 0 • view
It is time for Universal Healthcare. It is time for Drug Pricing Reform.
may 8, 2025, 1:08 pm • 4 1 • view
My wife has leukemia. Her meds (Tasigna) costs $20,000 per month. Our insurance has paid $16,000 per month and our copay was taken care of by Novartis patient support. Novartis has since cut its patient support, we are now responsible for the 4,000 per month. I don't know how long we can last
may 8, 2025, 12:42 pm • 38 1 • view
I just lost Novartis support for Kesimpta. (MS drug). Fortunately, I’m on Medicare. I met my $2000 copay cap. This injectable drug retails for $19,000 and is taken monthly. If the Medicare cap is lifted, I will be ending treatment.
may 8, 2025, 1:38 pm • 11 0 • view
My wife is on Medicaid, but it doesn't have a prescription plan. Her meds fall on my health care plan. It's like all of the guardrails have fallen off capitalism in the last 100 days. Best of luck and health to you.
may 8, 2025, 1:52 pm • 12 1 • view
You mean she is on Medicare - Medicaid covers prescriptions for the most part. Medicare, one needs a separate plan for prescriptions.
may 16, 2025, 4:39 pm • 1 0 • view
My mistake. You are correct.
may 16, 2025, 6:53 pm • 0 0 • view
Please don’t get me started about MS drugs. Holy cash cow, Batman.
may 9, 2025, 1:49 pm • 1 0 • view
I have an a-i disease.My "disease modifying drug" cost $$.Insurance stmnt says, "Your insurance saved you $4000.00 A MONTH." For a daily pill (compared to injection & infusion options).Now, on Medicare, I'm told if I stay on that easy pill, I will be in the "donut hole" & forced to pay the full amt
may 8, 2025, 4:31 pm • 1 0 • view
A drug maker can add one cheap placebo to a drug like Insulin & Revlimid & call it a new drug to charge more. But Revlimid is also, I soon learned, extraordinarily expensive, costing nearly $1,000 for each daily pill. (Although, I later discovered, a capsule costs just 25 cents to make.)
may 8, 2025, 2:11 pm • 3 2 • view
They know that dying people would pay anything to extend their life. This is what end stage capitalism looks like and why people root for Luigi.
may 8, 2025, 2:27 pm • 5 0 • view
In Saint Luigi, we trust Keep pushing the prices higher, we will figure out what to do you fucking vampires
may 8, 2025, 11:57 am • 30 0 • view
Easy: Shareholder greed.
may 8, 2025, 12:39 pm • 4 1 • view
Luigi needs to be released into the wild tbh
may 9, 2025, 6:28 am • 4 1 • view
I stopped radiation because it made me so sick! Just rolling the dice! Made arrangements to donate my body to Montana State Medical school
may 8, 2025, 1:34 pm • 3 0 • view
Greed, greed and greed. Lawyers and legal papers. Great research, thank you
may 8, 2025, 4:12 pm • 2 0 • view
Just another way that greed is killing the USA.
may 8, 2025, 12:52 pm • 6 0 • view
This company/drug has serious Purdue Oxycontin vibes 🤬
may 9, 2025, 12:35 am • 2 0 • view
It’s because in America, the people are the product being sold and used by the 1%. You’re not the people, you’re not the country, you’re not valued except for what you can spend… and even can’t afford to spend.
may 9, 2025, 6:08 am • 12 2 • view
Wonderful piece. Thank you!
may 8, 2025, 12:54 pm • 4 1 • view
This is why Breaking Bad couldn't have been made in a civilised country. It would make no sense.
may 8, 2025, 12:19 pm • 21 0 • view
Extortionary prices for medicine shouldn't be a shock to anyone by now; the shock should be why people aren't doing more about it. 💥💥💥
may 8, 2025, 1:02 pm • 4 1 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 1:48 pm • 0 0 • view
This is the fault of our Congress who are paid by the lobbyists of the pharmaceutical companies that cater to the corporations and not, We The People. Capitalism is out of control. It's Greedism!
may 8, 2025, 1:58 pm • 110 4 • view
Isn't this how a capitalist economy operates?
may 8, 2025, 7:25 pm • 1 0 • view
Yes and it's spreading into a worldwide pandemic
may 9, 2025, 2:03 pm • 0 0 • view
There used to be an altruistic value to capitalism. It doesn't exist anymore, or if it does, in very small and immeasurable amounts. It literally is straight-up greed.
may 8, 2025, 8:52 pm • 3 0 • view
Capitalism has never been altruistic. Even in its most pure and utopian form as described by Adam Smith, it is driven entirely by supply and demand. We have tried to impart altruism onto capitalism because it makes us feel better, but that has never been true.
may 8, 2025, 10:47 pm • 2 0 • view
Which one has been advocating mandatory accounting in high schools? Adam Smith used the word 'education' EIGHTY Times in Wealth of Nations. He wrote "read, write and ACCOUNT" FIVE times. Have any modern economists ever heard of Adam Smith? He didn't write anything abt Planned Obsolescence though!
may 9, 2025, 6:14 am • 1 0 • view
Maybe not all products should be priced by market forces and greed. Life-saving cancer drugs come to mind. Access should not be limited to the rich. Signed, wife of cancer patient who has good insurance and drug access and wishes the same for all.
may 9, 2025, 12:52 am • 10 0 • view
Yes. Thank you.
may 9, 2025, 12:43 pm • 1 0 • view
The pricing yes. In the US the only way to stop it is if insurance companies refused the price The dirty tricks after patent expiry no that shouldn’t t have been allowed
may 9, 2025, 5:52 am • 0 0 • view
This is the ideology of medical capitalism = greed = death for those who can't afford it.
may 8, 2025, 1:53 pm • 2 0 • view
Today's installment from the ponzi scheme we call health-care file.
may 8, 2025, 3:08 pm • 2 0 • view
Big pharma are greedy and they would rather pay lobbyists and politicians than cut their middlemen and just make things cheaper for us
may 8, 2025, 11:51 am • 32 1 • view
Daughter had acanthamoeba in her eye, medicine prescribed by doctor was not legal in the US because of big pharma having a $35000 a month option the FDA approved after disapproving another medication available everywhere else in the world for $0.50 month. Disgusting greed.
may 8, 2025, 11:54 am • 71 2 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 3:42 pm • 3 0 • view
The system needs to change! Perhaps research should be funded entirely by the govt. Taxpayers would benefit with better, cheaper healthcare.
may 8, 2025, 4:34 pm • 3 0 • view
The answer is always human greed and lack of regulation or accountability.
may 8, 2025, 11:50 am • 39 0 • view
💯
may 8, 2025, 1:06 pm • 1 0 • view
Free Luigi
may 8, 2025, 12:02 pm • 16 0 • view
Yes, to pay for damages many years later? Same as why Chiefs are overpaid, then a train worker or any other job that has some kind of danger always hanging around you, has a hard life and has to fight to get a 'dangerous job bonus'!
may 8, 2025, 12:17 pm • 4 0 • view
This will be what the UK’s health system will turn into if we don’t fight back against the enshittification and privatisation of the NHS. This drug in Scotland is FREE and it should stay that way and become more accessible to everyone who needs it
may 8, 2025, 2:36 pm • 5 0 • view
My mom was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in 2013 and after going through a stem cell transplant, she was prescribed Revlimid. She wouldn't have been able to afford the drug if it weren't for a research study and then a patient assistance program. 15 years later she is still with us luckily!
may 8, 2025, 4:05 pm • 6 0 • view
@katieporteroc.bsky.social was doing good work in Congress investigating the HUGE price difference between oral and IV chemotherapy drugs. The prices charged for this are criminal and lead to thousands of unnecessary deaths each year. Limits life expectancy to those who are lucky or have $$$
may 8, 2025, 4:07 pm • 2 0 • view
But apparently street drugs and black market drugs cost a fortune ...
may 8, 2025, 12:42 pm • 2 0 • view
A capitalist society of have and have nots. If you can you afford you will be fine, if you can not you will be left behind. Not to worry the present administration will make sure that Medicaid and Medicare will take care of you, right??🙄🤥😱
may 8, 2025, 5:00 pm • 4 0 • view
I can help the author with the answer. Rich men. “Prey” it never happens to you.
may 8, 2025, 2:55 pm • 2 0 • view
onenewsnet2.blogspot.com/2024/11/watc...
may 8, 2025, 1:45 pm • 3 0 • view
SOPHIE RAIN HAS THE BEST BODY ON SOCIAL MEDIA their Say hi if ur ready to risk it all SOPHIE RAIN HAS THE BEST BODY ON his planet WATCH FULL VIDEO TWITTER #Sophierain spiderman video 🔽⬇️⬇️ onenewsnet2.blogspot.com/2025/02/watc...
may 8, 2025, 12:50 pm • 0 0 • view
Profit is ok, gauging at the expense of lives is not!
may 8, 2025, 3:49 pm • 1 0 • view
What if Congressmen had to run solely on ability to serve the actual voters? If those campaigns had hard caps on money spent and allowed zero dollars from corporations and organizations? We tax every dollar above a minimum amount at say, 75%...and that money goes directly into the safety net.
may 8, 2025, 3:07 pm • 2 0 • view
Organized crime washed their loot by buying up pharmaceutical company, etc., stock, then putting their people on all the Director Boards & hiring their people in all the top spots. It happened in every industry & sector - it's just more glaringly obvious in Big Pharma, Big Oil, Big Grocery, etc.
may 8, 2025, 2:36 pm • 2 0 • view
Every American should read this article.
may 8, 2025, 10:38 pm • 22 1 • view
That's assuming that every American can read.
may 9, 2025, 2:01 am • 3 0 • view
Because health care is for profit. When you or your loved ones are sick or dying you’ll pay anything to relieve pain or have more time. It’s a pretty twisted and predatory business model.
may 8, 2025, 4:13 pm • 2 0 • view
When my husband was suffering the effects of chemo the doctor asked if we could afford med to stop the nausea.Only ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS A DOSE By the look on my face he decided to ask if FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS was doable. He left the hospital, never another dose of chemo and lived well another 25 yrs.
may 8, 2025, 1:09 pm • 4 1 • view
My dad had multiple myeloma twice. He took Revlimid on and off between 2008 and 2021. Due to its cost, and Medicare’s donut hole, my parents spent their life savings on this drug. The gag is if you take this medication long enough, you may develop leukemia. He did.
may 8, 2025, 2:56 pm • 2 0 • view
That’s a program for low income seniors that pays for any prescription and small copay. The PA lottery funds this I think.
may 8, 2025, 5:05 pm • 2 0 • view
My mom died from breast to bone cancer and the hospital she worked for forced her out b4 social security eligibility bc the department head wanted a bigger bonus and the hospital would have to pay her a real pension. She collected 106.00 a month and very little social security. She did get PACE.
may 8, 2025, 5:03 pm • 1 0 • view
Wow, great article!
may 8, 2025, 2:06 pm • 2 0 • view
Because luxury swiss vacations don't pay for themselves and the rich sure as hell don't want to pay for them. So force the cancer patients to pay, since they don't have any other choice. Economics 102.
may 8, 2025, 1:53 pm • 2 1 • view
I would also assume this is why Trump is defunding cancer research. A cure would take away the treatment cash cow that has been crested
may 8, 2025, 1:06 pm • 5 0 • view
And the reason is... you live in the USA. Yee-haw.
may 8, 2025, 3:24 pm • 1 0 • view
Although the price for Revilimid is much cheaper in Camada, it's still not cheap at all. I don't know if this is the estimated price for non Canadians or if locals get a break. I buy one of my medications from Canada $120 for 90 pills vs 650 for 30 here.
may 8, 2025, 10:42 pm • 3 0 • view
may 8, 2025, 10:43 pm • 2 0 • view
Read it
may 8, 2025, 6:31 pm • 2 0 • view
Superb article on the history of lenalidomide. We rarely think of financial toxicity when we prescribe it in #Australia. As others have said it's about AUD 32 per month on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that everyone has access to. Hope your myeloma stays in remission for a long time.
may 8, 2025, 10:28 pm • 23 1 • view
This is a sad reflection on the US. Yet one more reason why Canada has ZERO interest in becoming the 51st state. Elbows up!!! 🇨🇦
may 8, 2025, 1:25 pm • 52 2 • view
Your corporations are in league with ours. This goes worldwide. Keep them elbows up! 💙 I'm sharing this all over the place. He hits it. He says it all. youtu.be/7Wvwy3RqBl0?...
may 8, 2025, 3:52 pm • 0 0 • view
You’d better shore up your borders because American refugees are coming. We almost realize we’re a third world nation run by one guy and 53 senators that are actively trying to take our healthcare, safety and rights away.
may 8, 2025, 1:52 pm • 32 2 • view
I get it!
may 8, 2025, 2:06 pm • 6 0 • view
Help!
may 8, 2025, 2:27 pm • 8 0 • view
sad but true
may 8, 2025, 2:14 pm • 1 0 • view
Inhumane. #TreatHumansHumanely
may 8, 2025, 3:28 pm • 10 0 • view
Growing up, I assumed saving lives would be reward enough🤷♀️.
may 8, 2025, 4:38 pm • 2 0 • view
Please explain it in A few words so layman Can understand Is it really an abuse on the people, or is it really valuable
may 8, 2025, 2:15 pm • 0 0 • view
Why in the supposed greatest wealthiest nation on earth are people having to spend one red cent on life saving treatments, when billionaires pay no taxes and get to play make believe astronauts? WE ARE GETTING SCREWED BY THESE ASSHOLES
may 8, 2025, 4:40 pm • 1 0 • view
👍
may 20, 2025, 12:37 pm • 0 0 • view
Thanks for the article. My husband died in 2008 of MM with complications of amyloidosis. Revlimid wouldn't have helped him, but at the time Brigham & Women's was developing therapies to CURE MM based in the immune system. He died too soon, but one year of hell was enough.
may 8, 2025, 4:20 pm • 2 0 • view
I hope the author has a pain-free life ahead, however many days that turns out to be. WORK TOWARD A CURE.
may 8, 2025, 4:20 pm • 3 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 2:45 pm • 0 0 • view
My biological drugs are close to 90k a year.
may 8, 2025, 6:06 pm • 3 0 • view
Omg 👇🏾👇🏾 Revlimid is also, I soon learned, extraordinarily expensive, costing nearly $1,000 for each daily pill. (Although, I later discovered, a capsule costs just 25 cents to make.)
may 8, 2025, 3:44 pm • 0 1 • view
My monthly prescription to Alectinib, a targeted therapy for lung cancer patients, would cost me about 17k a month, were it not for insurance. How's that for budget friendly?
may 8, 2025, 7:12 pm • 4 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 11:35 pm • 0 0 • view
Thank you for this informative article. So sad for those who suffered and died. Husband suffers from side effects of rare cancer most die from. We could pay for best insurance & in the long run cost effective. Also paid bills early to get discount. A single payer system is the most ethical.
may 8, 2025, 1:34 pm • 4 0 • view
📌
may 9, 2025, 11:03 am • 0 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 2:32 pm • 1 0 • view
Thank you for this excellent and sobering article. I understand the need to recoup costs etc, but I remain out of words for the excessive greed vs offering affordable drugs for all human beings.
may 8, 2025, 1:24 pm • 3 0 • view
check into Jardiance, Eliquose buddy. The cheating of health care for Americans goes on by big pharma!
may 8, 2025, 4:46 pm • 2 0 • view
My father participated in a trial for this drug, which has put him into a 15+ year remission. He has been extraordinarily lucky at how well it worked against his disease. But the obscene profit-seeking by Celgene is just gross, holding people’s lives for ransom because they can.
may 8, 2025, 12:26 pm • 7 0 • view
Simple answer. Greed. More complex answer. FUCKING ASSHOLES GREED.
may 8, 2025, 1:54 pm • 6 0 • view
Superb reporting! I have a rare, incurable cancer and am starting JAKAFI, another insanely expensive drug. Fortunately, I became Medicare eligible 5/1/25 so my out of pocket cost will only be $2K/year. Otherwise, I couldn’t afford it. I can only imagine how many people die from corporate greed.
may 8, 2025, 3:24 pm • 0 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 11:36 am • 2 0 • view
Hi. I’ve seen lots of this red pin but don’t know what it means, besides on point. Is there a purpose I don’t know?
may 8, 2025, 11:54 am • 0 0 • view
It's a bookmark.
may 8, 2025, 12:01 pm • 1 0 • view
As someone else said, it’s like a bookmark. You reply like this then you use the feed bsky.app/profile/did:... which will show you the posts that you “bookmarked.” It shows only your own posts.
may 8, 2025, 12:04 pm • 4 0 • view
Thanks for explaining.
may 8, 2025, 12:07 pm • 1 0 • view
YES! My husband took this med. It was about $10K per month. Fortunately, the local cancer center was able to provide patients with some limited resources for financial help. It was a lot of work to get it. My heart goes out to people in this situation.
may 8, 2025, 1:47 pm • 3 0 • view
I have had breast cancer for 2 years. I now have recurrence and the oncologist suggested a med That retailed at $17,000 a month and it only had a 7% chance of helping. It gave 95% of people severe diarrhea. Medicare and my supplement agreed to pay. I refused it. How was it ever approved?
may 8, 2025, 12:55 pm • 5 1 • view
That's an incredibly expensive laxative!
may 8, 2025, 12:59 pm • 2 0 • view
I use Metamucil. Much cheaper. 😂
may 8, 2025, 1:05 pm • 1 0 • view
plot twist, 93% of the tablet is metamucil....
may 8, 2025, 1:06 pm • 2 0 • view
Thank you Mr. Armstrong for your article. My son was 29 when diagnosed. Today he fights the scourge of Revlimid side effects daily but accepts the fact that Revlimid is the damned if you do damned if you don't drug. Keep fighting the fight and may your journey be filled with love and hope.
may 8, 2025, 1:23 pm • 2 1 • view
The US needs a single-payer, National Heathcare System. This has been evident for a while. Countries that have one pay much less than we pay today -- maybe half. Republicans oppose this; they are in service of lobbyists, which include powerful insurance companies. That's reality.
may 8, 2025, 3:21 pm • 3 0 • view
Just read the whole thing... none of this insanity should be allowed
may 9, 2025, 12:38 am • 13 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 12:02 pm • 3 0 • view
If what shocked the author was anything other than 'corporate greed run rampant at the callous expense of unnecessary death' I'll be super surprised, that would be shocking if that *wasn't* the answer. If that *was* the answer for why the author was shocked.... how stupid must one be to be shocked?
may 8, 2025, 4:29 pm • 2 0 • view
The greed & evilness of the pharmaceutical industry as it prays on patients’ vulnerability is extremely concerning. #shamless
may 8, 2025, 12:48 pm • 5 1 • view
Disgusting... Greed... Unethical
may 8, 2025, 2:19 pm • 1 0 • view
sad & outrageous!
may 8, 2025, 2:19 pm • 0 0 • view
Big pharmaceutical is way too greedy! They shouldn’t be making such unreasonable profits from the misery of their fellow man.
may 8, 2025, 3:01 pm • 0 0 • view
may 8, 2025, 12:38 pm • 0 2 • view
This is hideous. I’m so sorry.
may 8, 2025, 2:41 pm • 5 0 • view
may 8, 2025, 12:22 pm • 8 0 • view
I had to stop reading the article. The ongoing greed shown by Celgene was too hard to stomach.
may 8, 2025, 3:05 pm • 3 0 • view
I was shocked when I was diagnosed at 43 after a fractured vertebrae left me having to relearn how to walk. Fortunately, health insurance has covered these exorbitant costs as well as many other things like CAR-T which allowed me to get completely off of Revlimid. Thank you for reporting on this.
may 8, 2025, 3:20 pm • 6 0 • view
If Republicans want to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, they’d be well advised to turn their attention to the private sector, particularly the oligopolies.
may 8, 2025, 11:47 pm • 9 0 • view
And meanwhile the Wall Street Journal is outraged over the possibility of drug price controls They’ve lost the humanity plot to being in a society
may 8, 2025, 2:02 pm • 5 1 • view
Your money or your life.
may 8, 2025, 12:10 pm • 3 0 • view
My husband’s maintenance cancer meds (2 types daily) in tablet form would cost $30,000 a month without help.
may 8, 2025, 3:31 pm • 3 0 • view
Capitalism only cares about profit.
may 8, 2025, 12:22 pm • 10 0 • view
This is included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in Australia and if I'm reading the PBS table correctly is $31.60 per dose. www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/ite...
may 8, 2025, 1:49 pm • 4 1 • view
nope, 31.60 per script, 28 tablets.....
may 8, 2025, 3:40 pm • 1 1 • view
Right!!!
may 8, 2025, 9:50 pm • 0 0 • view
Yes the pill costs .25¢, I doubt that includes the cost of the drug. The expensive is d/t advertising, greed and the cost of the clinical trials. I worked as a programmer at a place that did the data collection/analysis/reports and the costs are unbelievable. /1
may 8, 2025, 5:21 pm • 4 0 • view
/2 I was billed at $125/hr and it was at least 100 hours. The statistician billed at $250/hr, PM, $175/hr. Then there were the subjects that got $200-$750 for the study with 3000 people. It was many many millions. That doesn’t count the Phase I & II studies. /3
may 8, 2025, 5:26 pm • 2 0 • view
/3 They get 10 year exclusivity before generics can be produced. Though some companies pay generic sites to not produce. I’m not saying this is acceptable, but it’s all about the $$$. Congress could ban advertising, paying companies not to produce generics, but that’s not gonna happen.
may 8, 2025, 5:30 pm • 2 0 • view
📌
may 8, 2025, 2:36 pm • 0 0 • view
What disgusting people we share this planet with
may 8, 2025, 12:24 pm • 6 0 • view
But his golf…his parade…those are needed
may 8, 2025, 10:33 pm • 8 1 • view
may 9, 2025, 8:51 pm • 1 1 • view
Capitalism, greed and corruption, such a lovely combination
may 8, 2025, 2:05 pm • 3 0 • view
Australia-cost of Revlimid’s subsidized through a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).Without PBS, a course of treatment could cost over $194,000. With PBS, the maximum out-of-pocket cost for a prescription is currently $31.60 for general patients, with concession card holders paying a lower amount
may 8, 2025, 6:46 pm • 3 0 • view
I can’t imagine dying from cancer because I didn’t have money. What a horrible country to live in.. Americans need to join the rest of the first world countries and get universal free healthcare.
may 8, 2025, 2:32 pm • 13 1 • view
We can’t, because Congress is taking money from Insurance and Pharmaceutical lobbyists. The whole system is corrupt.
may 8, 2025, 4:04 pm • 2 0 • view
Politicians have been using words like “socialism” for decades that somehow scare Americans into voting for people who are killing them.
may 8, 2025, 4:44 pm • 2 0 • view
Yes.
may 8, 2025, 5:06 pm • 0 0 • view
The problem with healthcare in the US is the lack of a market. Consumers are captive, and there is no price discovery process. Despite this, improved technology continues to arrive because the humans pursuing treatments genuinely care.
may 8, 2025, 12:14 pm • 5 0 • view