Thank you, US Patent Office

March 2, 2008

is a migraine fighting drug sold under brand names like Imitrex and Imigran. It also happens to be the perscription drug that can battle B's headaches. Even with health insurance these pills are expensive and without it's tragic ($270 for 9 tablets).

The reason? GlaxoSmithKline has been able to extend their US patent considerably through patent litigation whereas in Europe the patent expired in 2006. As a result sumatriptan is an over-the-counter drug in the UK and while it's perscription only in Denmark you can get generic versions for as low as $15 for 12 tablets and that's before the discounts offered as a part of the national health care.

By my calculations that makes the US tablets 2400% more expensive than the Danish ones. All because of patent litigation. GlaxoSmithKline, you are extorting Americans specifically because of the way the legal system is set up there. That makes you bad people, so fuck you.

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2 comments

[...] Because I’m now without health insurance and my prescription medication of choice, Imitrex, costs $275 for nine tablets, I remain on the homeopathic and holistic bandwagons. While I’ve been doing acupuncture and herbal therapy for months, I now also take homeopathic headache remedies in addition to my regime of cold forehead patches and HeadOn. And the prescription drugs that cost me more than a week’s paycheck? Available over the counter in the UK and for much cheaper in every other country. Thanks, US patent office. [...]
brittany shoot » Blog Archive » Clearing head: a s — 3 years 42 weeks ago

Healthcare should be about compassion not greed.
OK people have to make a profit to stay in business and create jobs but
Do the fat cat multi national director sever think about a migrane sufferer banging their heads off a wall because they are in such pain because they cant afford the medication? no because they are too busy shoving champagne down their throats

Mike Kelly — 3 years 40 weeks ago

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