Posted by pharmrep on September 1, 2002, at 16:59:45
In reply to Cheap, Generic Celexa Won't Happen: Here's Why: » moxy1000, posted by Simcha on September 1, 2002, at 15:33:19
> I'm concerned by the growing debate over Lexapro. I am not saying that we should not allow Drug Reps to provide information on this new drug.
>
> However..... I think that Pharmrep is more than zealous about Lexapro. Of course he would be. His job depends on it. I think we need to remind ourselves that drug reps and drug companies in general are for profit institutions and as such the profit is the ONLY GOAL of said institutions.
>
> Remember Enron, Worldcom, and all the rest of the corporate scandals lately. These big companies really have so much control over our lives.
>
> As they make Celexa impossible to get because it will be knocked off of the formulary of most insurance companies due to the pricing of their new drug Lexapro, Forest introduces "New and Improved Celexa" in the form of Lexapro. Now, those of us who do just fine on Celexa may not do as well on Lexapro. I see no convincing evidence that Lexapro will be better for me than Celexa. Most med changes have been very difficult for me.
>
> Knocking the waning Celexa off of insurance formularies by making Lexapro cheaper Forest has made certain that no one but Forest will make profit off of Citalopram. The old drug "citalopram" will die an early death at the hands of the insurance companies so that by the time Forest loses its patent no one will bother marketing generic citalopram because there would be no profit. Thus Forest retains its patent on Lexapro and remains the sole provider of this allegedly superior form of its most successful drug (removing the r-isomer of course).
>
> I do not buy into their claims that this is not a profit driven plan for the reasons above. It will insure a continued monopoly on the s-isomer at the very least and it will kill any incentive for any other company to make a generic citalopram thus keeping Lexapro on top of the market.
>
> Just My Opinion,
> Simcha*** where do you get your info on Celexa being "knocked off" formulary? I dont think that will happen...Forest is not trying to have "happy" Celexa patients switch to Lexapro...just those who "need" to for adverse event reasons. And to concur..generic Celexa not in US til late 2005....
PS Will somebody tell Simcha about Howard Soloman and his story (and his son) so maybe this way Simcha might see Forest in a different light. (PPS...the above point about waiting til patent out is what GlaxoSmithKline did with Paxil...Paxil CR was approved by FDA 3 years ago, but only came out this year...when the original Paxil expires...the public and Dr's are learning this and are not happy....sorry it happens Simcha...but really...Forest isnt a bad cookie and is trying to do the right thing...by promoting the better med.)
poster:pharmrep
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118436.html