According to Dr. Marcia Angell in her book The Truth About The Drug Companies , “The combined profits for the ten drug companies in the Fortune 500 were more than the profits for all the other490 businesses put together,” in certain years leading up to 2004when the book was published.
A recent study in the JAMA concluded:
“From 2000 to 2018, the profitability of large pharmaceutical companies was significantly greater than other large, public companies, but the difference was less pronounced when considering company size, year, or research and development expense. Data on the profitability of large pharmaceutical companies may be relevant to formulating evidence-based policies to make medicines more affordable.“
This means that Pharma makes more than other types of companies, but not as much more when taking everything into consideration.
According to one analysis of the study a primary interest to the research team is to retain or increase profitability while decreasing pharmaceutical cost for consumers.
According to Statista the United States spent $511 Billion on medicines for the year 2019, a number that has steadily risen over the last 16 years. They mention that 80% of money spent for the year of 2019 were on brand name drugs. Humira was the number 1 sales item.
Statista describes Humira as:
“Humira is a drug used to reduce the signs and symptoms of a number of autoimmune diseases in adults, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The drug, manufactured by the company AbbVie, is the leading pharmaceutical product worldwide based on sales – sales of the drug accounted for approximately 57 percent of AbbVie’s total revenue in 2019. The prescription drug is given by an injection under the skin, and two kits of the Humira Pen (40 mg) cost an average of 4,480 U.S. dollars in the United States in 2017, which was far more expensive than other selected countries.“
According to Drugs.com:
“Humira (adalimumab) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker that reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation. Humira is used to treat many inflammatory conditions in adults, such as ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, and a skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa. Humira is also used in adults and children to treat Crohn’s disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis or uveitis.
Humira affects your immune system. Adalimumab can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and you may get infections more easily. Serious infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria have happened in people taking this medicine. Some people have died from these infections.
Serious infections include tuberculosis (TB). Your doctor should test you for TB before starting and during treatment with Humira.
Before or during treatment with Humira, tell your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, aches, tiredness, cough, skin sores, diarrhea, or burning when you urinate.“
The side effects on the Drugs.com page are too numerous to post, but I will at least post this:
“Patients treated with adalimumab are at increased risk of infection, some of which may become serious and lead to hospitalization or death. These infections have included TB, invasive fungal infections, bacterial, viral, and those caused by opportunistic pathogens including Legionella and Listeria. The risks and benefits of therapy should be carefully considered prior to treatment initiation in patients with chronic or recurrent infection. Evaluate for latent TB and treat if necessary prior to initiating therapy. Monitor patients closely for signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment, including the possible development of TB in patients who tested negative prior to treatment. Consider empirical antifungal therapy in at-risk patients who develop severe systemic illness. Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in pediatric and adolescent patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers such as adalimumab. Postmarketing cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL), usually fatal, have been reported in patients treated with TNF blockers including adalimumab, primarily in adolescent and young adult males with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Most cases occurred in patients receiving concomitant treatment with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine.”
Since Humira is a drug prescribed for certain auto-immune related problems I will post this as well. This is a good auto-biographical piece about a mother dealing with her auto-immune issues.
Principle Vitality 