Mestinon® COST
Mestinon® Cost History in the
United States.
Mestinon®
Cost Increases vs. Social Security Cost of Living and all prescription drug price
Increases.
The following compilation of Mestinon® prices was begun in May 1996 and updated regularly utilizing the mgmail listserv (now replaced with the Myasthenia Mail List (MML). The World Health Organization has made pyridostigmine bromide an essential drug (as it has been for many years). Essential drugs are those that satisfy the health care needs of the majority of the population; they should therefore be available at all times in adequate amounts and in the appropriate dosage forms, and at a price that individuals and the community can afford. This concept is intended to be flexible and adaptable to many different situations; exactly which drugs are regarded as essential remains a national responsibility.
Another addition to this survey is a history of United States Mestinon® prices since 1984. Information was taken from various patient records and Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America newsletters. A final section was added which compares the increases in the price of Mestinon® with the increases provided by the Social Security Administration (United States) for those on Social Security Benefits (including Retirees and Disabled) and also to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index (PPI) for Prescription Drugs. The Social Security Benefit increases are closely tied to the inflation rate in the United States.
A time history of the Mestinon® prices has been formed with information from a few patients who kept records over the years. If you have any information to add or correct your help would be greatly appreciated. This time history is only for the United States. The problem in 1989 came about for two reasons. First, the United States Prescription Drug Marketing Act (P.L. 100-293), became law in 1988 and many hospital pharmacies viewed it as threatening to their legal operation of Drug Banks for local MGF chapters. The following Food and Drug Administration website provides the basic law covering this issue.
http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/rpm/default/htm
| Year | Manufacturer | Distributer | Notes | Price 500x60mg($U.S.) |
| 1984 | Roche | Roche | 1,2 | $23.90 |
| 1985 | Roche | Roche | 1,2 | $28.85 |
| 1986 | Roche | Roche | 1,2 | ???? |
| 1987 | Roche | Roche | 1,2 | $33.20 |
| 1988 | Roche | Roche | 1,2 | $33.20 |
| 1989 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $87.00 |
| 1990 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $100.00 |
| 1991 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $130.12 |
| 1992 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $139.22 |
| 1993 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $146.55 |
| 1994 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $154.95 |
| 1995 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $162.73 |
| 1996 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $172.49 |
| 1997 | Roche | ICN | 3 | $195.29 |
| 1998 | ICN | ICN | 3 | $215.00 |
| 1999 | ICN | ICN | 3, 4 | $225.750 |
| 2000 | ICN | ICN | 3 | $238.00 |
| 2001 | ICN | ICN | ||
| 2002 | ICN | ICN | ||
| 2003 | ICN | ICN | ||
| 2004 | Valeant | Valeant | 5 | $305.11 |
| 2005 | Valeant | Valeant | 5 | $358.95 |
Notes:
1. Price from Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. includes $3.00 professional fee.
This price is a wholesale price provided to patients.
2. Price from Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. includes $2.00 mailing charge.
This price is a wholesale price provided to patients.
3. Price from Rx America includes all expenses with the exception of a $10 yearly charge by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America to participate. This price is a retail price. Wholesale prices were no longer available after 1988-1989 due to changes in Federal Law governing distribution of drugs. The Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC teminated the MG Drug Bank as a result.
4. RxAmerica announced a 5% price increase in 1999 but withheld its going into effect until January 2000. It is included in this chart as though it went into effect when announced.
5. RxAmerica would not provide a cost in July 2005. Online Drugstore.com was used for this cost. Cost in 2004 was estimated based on a 15% Valeant increase on July 1, 2005.
Table Comparing Mestinon® Cost Increases to Social Security Benefit Increases for the Past 12 Years (the period under ICN control) and to the Producer Price Index for Prescription Drugs put out by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Mestinon® Cost Increases vs. Social Security Cost of Living and all prescription drug price Increases |
||||
| Year | Cost for Mestinon® - 500 tablets in the U.S. | % Increase in Mestinon® cost | % Increase in Social Security Benefits** | % Increase in all Prescription Drug prices. |
| 1989 | 87 | 162* | 4.2 | 9.2% |
| 1990 | 100 | 14.9 | 4.0 | 8.9% |
| 1991 | 130 | 30.0 | 4.7 | 8.3% |
| 1992 | 139 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 7.1% |
| 1993 | 146 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 4.5% |
| 1994 | 154 | 5.5 | 3.0 | 2.5% |
| 1995 | 162 | 5.2 | 2.6 | 3.1% |
| 1996 | 172 | 6.2 | 2.8 | 3.2% |
| 1997 | 195 | 13.4 | 2.6 | 3.1% |
| 1998 | 215 | 9.8 | 2.9 | 18.2% |
| 1999 | 215 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 3.7% |
| 2000 | 238 | 5.1 | 2.4 | 3.0% |
| 2001 | 255 (est.) | 7.0 | 3.5 | 2.7% |
| 2002 | 2.6 | 2.5% | ||
| 2003 | 1.4 | 3.8% | ||
| 2004 | 2.1 | 4.9% | ||
| 2005 | 359 | 15% | 2.7 | 4.8% |
| 2006 | ||||
*Price jump when distribution of Mestinon® taken over by ICN and Drug Banks discontinued.
**Taken from the Social Security Administration homepage (http://www.ssa.gov/)
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