Posted by Ritch on March 5, 2003, at 9:46:36
In reply to Why is Provigil so expensive?, posted by Jack Smith on March 4, 2003, at 12:06:16
> Anyone know?
>
> The stock answer that the drug companies just want to make money does not make any sense to me. My basic understanding of economics would lead me to believe that a price closer to that of ssri's would cause more people to take it (and make ins. companies more willing to prescribe it) which would make the company more money.
>
> Is it just really expensive to manufacture? Someone has to know a reason.
>
> JACKJack, that is a very good question. My bet is that it *isn't* that expensive to manufacture and the reason they price it so high is because the indication is rather narrow (narcolepsy). No obesity, ADHD, depression indications. That restricts the number of scripts that can be written by quite a bit (despite off-label use). It is like a new flat-panel HDTV with no cable HDTV to use with it (restricted demand). OH, there's another thing-I heard the military is buying quite a bit of the stuff-with our tax money.
poster:Ritch
thread:205798
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030301/msgs/206100.html