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Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

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Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#11

Post by burkaman »

sparrish wrote: post #8

This is bogus. Wal-mart sells insulin for $24.88 a vial without prescription currently. It's only the newer 'guchi' insulin brands that are crazy expensive. Stuff from 1996 that is compared to in this article is actually cheaper than it was in 1996 (adjusted for inflation).

It's not branding, the newer insulin is significantly different and better for almost every patient. https://diabetesstrong.com/walmart-insulin/

It's likely not what your doctor prescribed, it doesn't last as long, it requires you (or your young children) to eat on a very specific schedule, it can't be used with an insulin pen or insulin pump, it's just all around a worse and less effective treatment.

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#12

Post by adamrezich »

HarryHirsch wrote: post #9

Insulin is a solved problem, in first-world countries the sale price is fixed and there's public healthcare. But in America you are supposed to take "personal responsibility" for your own health and biohack your way ouf of type 1 diabetes?! Srsly? This s a political, not a scientific problem. Call your congresscritter.

> Call your congresscritter.

unfortunately not likely to do anything as long as the big pharma lobby remains as powerful as it is

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#13

Post by hef19898 »

sparrish wrote: post #8

This is bogus. Wal-mart sells insulin for $24.88 a vial without prescription currently. It's only the newer 'guchi' insulin brands that are crazy expensive. Stuff from 1996 that is compared to in this article is actually cheaper than it was in 1996 (adjusted for inflation).

Or, you know, public health care. But I digress.

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#14

Post by foxyv »

sparrish wrote: post #8

This is bogus. Wal-mart sells insulin for $24.88 a vial without prescription currently. It's only the newer 'guchi' insulin brands that are crazy expensive. Stuff from 1996 that is compared to in this article is actually cheaper than it was in 1996 (adjusted for inflation).

The hard part is getting doctors to offer prescriptions for the cheaper brands as an alternative. A lot of doctors will prescribe the most expensive drug simply because they believe or know that it is better in some way without regard to it's cost.

It's changed a lot recently as doctors have become more aware of the cost of these drugs. But you still have to self advocate for less expensive drugs. Less savvy people often have trouble getting transparency into drug costs. Often even the doctors can't get a straight answer on pricing and insurance coverage.

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#15

Post by hooande »

sparrish wrote: post #8

This is bogus. Wal-mart sells insulin for $24.88 a vial without prescription currently. It's only the newer 'guchi' insulin brands that are crazy expensive. Stuff from 1996 that is compared to in this article is actually cheaper than it was in 1996 (adjusted for inflation).

this is very true. prices of name brand insulin need to come down, but there is a low cost option available for those that need it

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#16

Post by [deleted] »

sparrish wrote: post #8

This is bogus. Wal-mart sells insulin for $24.88 a vial without prescription currently. It's only the newer 'guchi' insulin brands that are crazy expensive. Stuff from 1996 that is compared to in this article is actually cheaper than it was in 1996 (adjusted for inflation).

[deleted]

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#17

Post by f6v »

As someone who had to create transgenic E.coli in a lab, I admire the effort. It’s hard to get it right, especially when trying to make bacteria produce stuff for you. However, it feels like a huge step backward. Imagine you couldn’t afford to buy a piece of bread. Instead, you need to grow your own grains and build a windmill first. Sounds ridiculous in 2021.

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#18

Post by jart »

burkaman wrote: post #11
sparrish wrote: post #8

This is bogus. Wal-mart sells insulin for $24.88 a vial without prescription currently. It's only the newer 'guchi' insulin brands that are crazy expensive. Stuff from 1996 that is compared to in this article is actually cheaper than it was in 1996 (adjusted for inflation).

It's not branding, the newer insulin is significantly different and better for almost every patient. https://diabetesstrong.com/walmart-insulin/ It's likely not what your doctor prescribed, it doesn't last as long, it requires you (or your young children) to eat on a very specific schedule, it can't be used with an insulin pen or insulin pump, it's just all around a worse and less effective treatment.

When were these newer insulins invented? Are they a recent thing? Was it the case that twenty years ago, "Walmart" insulin was the only insulin?

Re: Biohackers take aim at big pharma’s stranglehold on insulin

#19

Post by badRNG »

adamrezich wrote: post #12
HarryHirsch wrote: post #9

Insulin is a solved problem, in first-world countries the sale price is fixed and there's public healthcare. But in America you are supposed to take "personal responsibility" for your own health and biohack your way ouf of type 1 diabetes?! Srsly? This s a political, not a scientific problem. Call your congresscritter.

> Call your congresscritter. unfortunately not likely to do anything as long as the big pharma lobby remains as powerful as it is

What else is one to do?
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