POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: buginme2 on August 27, 2012, 07:26:47 pm

Title: Quad approved
Post by: buginme2 on August 27, 2012, 07:26:47 pm
And it will from here on out be called Stribild.  I liked Quad better.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/27/us-gilead-hiv-idUSBRE87Q16620120827
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: jimbalaya on August 27, 2012, 09:16:24 pm
I actually have an appointment in two days to meet with my ID doc...I'm curious to hear what his thoughts are on this drug.   Thanks for sharing the link.    ;D
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Dr.Strangelove on August 28, 2012, 04:35:42 am
Stribild? Indeed a strange name. Not that I got a problem with strange but still.

Is there any news on the (over)pricing?
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 28, 2012, 05:41:25 am
[rant=looselyrelated]

Just what we need, another drug name to learn/remember. It drives me nuts. Most hiv meds have two, if not three and sometimes four, different names.

Here everyone usually uses the brand name. My doctor always uses the generic name so I have to learn both to be able to converse here and with him as well - because he can never remember the brand name. Arrgh!

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I first started learning about the meds one of the things I found the most daunting was remembering the multiple names of each drug. I still get them mixed up at times and often have to double-check to be 100% sure. Did I mention that it drives me NUTS?

Around ten years ago when I was first trying to learn all the names, I put them on some index cards I found lying around. One side was the generic and abbreviated name (ie ABC or 3TC) and the other side was the brand name. Ugh. Hiv med flash cards. How geeky is that? :-\

And now that we're getting more and more multi-drug, multi-class pills, we get people referring to their component parts by their brand names or their generic names - and sometimes a combination of both. 

And don't get me started on all the additional generic brand names like Viraday (generic Atripla).

No wonder newbies get confused.

[/rant]

I agree that it's an odd name (maybe that will help me remember it) - because of the bild, it makes me think a German-speaker came up with it. Sounds Germanic to me, anyway.

What was wrong with Quad? ???
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: wolfter on August 28, 2012, 05:53:06 am
Trying using my method; it really works.  My combination is 2 white ones, 1 blue one and 1 pink one. ;D

Wolfie
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Common_ground on August 28, 2012, 06:17:16 am
Stribild, odd name...

Price seems to be around 28 - 29K USD / year although not yet officially announced.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/business/fda-approves-once-a-day-pill-for-hiv.html

Is it too much? From what I understand this is the free market price. Gilead will subsidize for ADAP and Ryan White and transfer formulas for generic pills to manufacturers in developing countries. "Stril".... :P
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 28, 2012, 06:38:04 am
I always thought they'd go with something like Quadravir.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 28, 2012, 06:39:24 am
The should name it Haris Pilton.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: phildinftlaudy on August 28, 2012, 07:06:54 am
I was kind of hoping they would name it "Four-play"

Captures the quad and still a little quirky -
Also, fits nicely onto an index card.... for Ann's benefit  ;)
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: bocker3 on August 28, 2012, 10:41:15 am
Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name.  It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember.  Just sayin..........

Mike
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Newguy on August 28, 2012, 12:14:44 pm
Bocker says:

"Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name.  It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember.  Just sayin.........."

No I do not remember because I was too young at that time. I also do not remember when woman were not aloud to vote, when many innocent people died in WW2, when the black plague wiped out millions, when black people couldn't ride at the front of the bus. There are sadly an infinite number of instances of human suffering that I do not want to remember but I certainly do not want to forget.

Just Saying



Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: newt on August 28, 2012, 12:18:07 pm
You have insurance companies that are happy to cough up the +36% dollars over the price of Atripla for the same clinical effect? hmmmm

As a UK commentator said "Quad is a formulation of four compounds, all developed by Gilead: elvitegravir, cobicistat, tenofovir and FTC. It is a once-daily treatment, and can be taken with or without caviar."

- matt
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Common_ground on August 28, 2012, 01:05:24 pm
From a clinical view.

I would be interesting to know whats going in the R&D departments of the big pharmas. Diagnosed today(maybe even folks with resistance now can go on Stribild) and it is a good chance you can go on with a once-a-day regimen, most reach undetectable fairly quick, CD4 goes up and people get on with their lives. How much better can the meds, as we know them today, get?

Just looking at the insert of any drugs and there will be warnings about possible side effects and adverse reactions. I just doubt there will be ARVs more effective than what we have today. Im not neglecting that people have issues but even without HIV health problems can and will arise.

Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: wolfter on August 28, 2012, 02:03:15 pm
Bocker says:

"Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name.  It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember.  Just sayin.........."

No I do not remember because I was too young at that time. I also do not remember when woman were not aloud to vote, when many innocent people died in WW2, when the black plague wiped out millions, when black people couldn't ride at the front of the bus. There are sadly an infinite number of instances of human suffering that I do not want to remember but I certainly do not want to forget.

Just Saying

I think you misunderstood what a fellow LTS meant by his comment.  It is a great thing to worry about all the names of the numerous effective medications as they were NONE when we were given the horrific news of a short life expectancy.

Not sure why you took exception to his comment and your reply had a snarky ring to it.

just sayin.

Wolfie
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Jmarksto on August 28, 2012, 04:37:25 pm
From a clinical view.

I would be interesting to know whats going in the R&D departments of the big pharmas. Diagnosed today(maybe even folks with resistance now can go on Stribild) and it is a good chance you can go on with a once-a-day regimen, most reach undetectable fairly quick, CD4 goes up and people get on with their lives. How much better can the meds, as we know them today, get?

Just looking at the insert of any drugs and there will be warnings about possible side effects and adverse reactions. I just doubt there will be ARVs more effective than what we have today. Im not neglecting that people have issues but even without HIV health problems can and will arise.



Agreed -- meds are very good and I am very thankful.  However, only 1 in 4 in the US are "under control", and fewer globaly.  There are still folks that have challenges afording the meds, with the daily regimen, etc.  Hopefuly we continue to see advances - like a longer acting (weekly, monthly) and less expensive alternatives.

JM
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: LM on August 28, 2012, 06:09:09 pm
You have insurance companies that are happy to cough up the +36% dollars over the price of Atripla for the same clinical effect? hmmmm

As a UK commentator said "Quad is a formulation of four compounds, all developed by Gilead: elvitegravir, cobicistat, tenofovir and FTC. It is a once-daily treatment, and can be taken with or without caviar."

- matt


Ha! Loved it!

The US is run by corporations. Of course they will adopt this, regardless of the price. Too bad for the rest of the world.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 29, 2012, 04:55:53 am
Remember, back in the day-- people would have given their left arms for even one effective med -- of any name.  It's nice to be living in a time when we get to complain about all the names to remember.  Just sayin..........

Mike

I totally agree. I'm grateful that we have all these meds, even if it does come with the frustration of having so many different names for single meds as well as for combo (one pill) meds. It's something we now have the luxury of grousing about and even poking a little fun at.

However, in no way does that disrespect the memory, the history of this pandemic. Because that's what I felt like you were "Just sayin........."
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: bocker3 on August 29, 2012, 10:05:29 am
However, in no way does that disrespect the memory, the history of this pandemic. Because that's what I felt like you were "Just sayin........."

Oh no Ann -- I was not saying that at all.  Although, in hindsight, I can see how that was one way to take it.  I was merely pointing out that we are in a far better place when remembering the drug names is actually an issue.

Hugs,
Mike
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 29, 2012, 10:20:13 am
Thanks Mike. I did read the just sayin as sarcasm - bloody internet. I'm glad that wasn't your intent.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Dr.Strangelove on August 29, 2012, 09:05:42 pm
Btw this is the article (http://i-base.info/gilead-greed-quad/) with the caviar comment.
I share their criticism about Gilead's pricing.
Quad's medical benefits over other existing medications is small and doesn't justify a +30% price tag (over Atripla).
The other benefits of Quad are merely convenience (doesn't have to be taken with a 400kcal meal...)
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 30, 2012, 05:53:49 am
I think a world-wide boycott of Quadravir Quadrophenia ...er... Stribild would fix Gilead's wagon. Wonder how difficult it would be to get doctors to not prescribe it?
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 30, 2012, 07:35:28 am
I pay (or rather Medicare pays) $46,311.24 per year for my HIV (only) medications. What's the yearly cost of this new drug versus Atripla? $29,000 versus (?) $20,000

Such quibbling!
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 30, 2012, 08:23:58 am
I pay (or rather Medicare pays) $46,311.24 per year for my HIV (only) medications. What's the yearly cost of this new drug versus Atripla? $29,000 versus (?) $20,000

Such quibbling!

Maybe the NHS gets Atripla a lot cheaper than people can elsewhere. From the article linked to above;

"The annual wholesale list price for Quad is expected to be close to $28,500 (approximately Ģ18,000). The list price for Atripla in the UK is just over Ģ7,500 (British National Formulary)."

Looks like a substantial difference from this side of the pond.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 30, 2012, 09:24:52 am

Looks like a substantial difference from this side of the pond.

Well, yeah -- of course it looks like that on "that side of the pond". It's subsidized by US insurance customers.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 30, 2012, 10:46:05 am
Well, yeah -- of course it looks like that on "that side of the pond". It's subsidized by US insurance customers.

Been drinking the kool-aid, dear?
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 30, 2012, 11:00:22 am
Been drinking the kool-aid, dear?


So if the US had a NHS style price structure for pharmaceuticals how would effect the prices the UK pays?
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Ann on August 30, 2012, 11:01:43 am
So if the US had a NHS style price structure for pharmaceuticals how would effect the prices the UK pays?

It wouldn't make a difference.
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Miss Philicia on August 30, 2012, 11:04:02 am
It wouldn't make a difference.

link, please
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: newt on August 30, 2012, 01:17:47 pm
Atripla US annual wholesale cost $21,000, UK in your money $11-12,000 (Ģ7,500). There is no link. The pricing systems are different. We pay less for the same drugs as you and pharma still makes a decent profit. Since the Quad has no special resistance busting qualities and costs a shed load more than other as-good-as 1 x day options  I expect to see very few people on it in the UK.

- matt
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: Valmont on August 30, 2012, 04:18:54 pm
I donīt know how big pharmas work...  Viraday (eq. to Atripla) is around USD 360 for 30 tablets here and the 2 Indian tablets regime our health system give us should be much cheaper because they donīt buy Viraday because of its cost, my doc says...

Side effects seem the same........

For me, Iīm good with 2 tablets once a day...

I understand pharma corps earn money, but it has not to be done with a high cost for the states or for the people...  Many problem we have with insurance (and work, and getting money from the bank and so on...) are because of these prices and sometimes, I think it is better to be living in a middle or low income state, with a responible health policy than in the "First World"

Are those prices fair???
Title: Re: Quad approved
Post by: buginme2 on August 30, 2012, 05:52:29 pm
Drug companies could lower the prices they charge in the United States.   Understand, doing so would cause prices to rise for the rest of the world.  Low drug prices in the UK, Europe, and the third world are offset by high prices here.

Your welcome.