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Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

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Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#111

Post by OutOfHere »

js2 wrote: post #39
OutOfHere wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is nothing illegal about it. People get medicines from abroad all the time that are not generic domestically. It's not a controlled substance. One might have to go through unofficial channels though. In fact, I know people domestically who already get it cheaply from elsewhere abroad.

> In most circumstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs or devices into the U.S. for personal use because these products purchased from other countries often have not been approved by the FDA for use and sale in the U.S. https://www.fda.gov/industry/import-basics/personal-importat...

There are a million laws on the books that not only are not enforced, but aren't even self consistent with each other. It is enforcement that determines what one actually can or can't do. The enforcement exists for controlled substances, for resale, and for a supply of over 90 days. For personal non-commercial use of a non-controlled medicine for under 90 days, the law is not enforced, and for good reason. People would die if the law were to be enforced too strictly.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#112

Post by Marsymars »

dghlsakjg wrote: post #104
SoftTalker wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone I know taking these is buying generic compounded formulas. Insurance mostly doesn’t cover it so the go for the cheaper options.

That doesn't figure into the pricing strategy or giving away patent protection in Canada in 2018 as far as I can tell? Compounding isn't allowed in Canada, currently, so I assume you are talking about the US? Compounding Ozempic in the US wasn't a thing in 2018 when this patent was released in Canada, so not sure what one has to do with the other. What are you getting at in reference to the argument that the patent w…

> Compounding isn't allowed in Canada, currently

How does this work? Why/when would compounding not be allowed?

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#113

Post by wasabi991011 »

dghlsakjg wrote: post #104
SoftTalker wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone I know taking these is buying generic compounded formulas. Insurance mostly doesn’t cover it so the go for the cheaper options.

That doesn't figure into the pricing strategy or giving away patent protection in Canada in 2018 as far as I can tell? Compounding isn't allowed in Canada, currently, so I assume you are talking about the US? Compounding Ozempic in the US wasn't a thing in 2018 when this patent was released in Canada, so not sure what one has to do with the other. What are you getting at in reference to the argument that the patent w…

> Compounding isn't allowed in Canada

I'm not sure why you think that, compounding is allowed, I live right be a compounding pharmacy. And confirmed it's legal through google.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#114

Post by barbazoo »

labcomputer wrote: post #68
killingtime74 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't worry about the law think about the practical impact. It's now completely legal to ignore the patent in Canada so the price in Canada will plummet. Canadian pharmacies can legally sell it and Americans (and all other foreigners for that matter) traveling there can legally buy it. Unlike the criminal law, Novo nordisk would have to go after every single person individually and make the case that they are infring…

> Unlike the criminal law, Novo nordisk would have to go after every single person individually and make the case that they are infringing the American patent. This is all without the help of the police or customs, as a private civil matter. I don't think that's quite right. One of the things that CBP does is inspect incoming shipments, and confiscate IP-infringing things. Think about the recent Apple Watch SpO2 sens…

How practical is that for something the size of a couple pill bottles? Is that something customs would actually catch at all? They seem to have other priorities these days it seems.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#115

Post by SoftTalker »

dghlsakjg wrote: post #104
SoftTalker wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone I know taking these is buying generic compounded formulas. Insurance mostly doesn’t cover it so the go for the cheaper options.

That doesn't figure into the pricing strategy or giving away patent protection in Canada in 2018 as far as I can tell? Compounding isn't allowed in Canada, currently, so I assume you are talking about the US? Compounding Ozempic in the US wasn't a thing in 2018 when this patent was released in Canada, so not sure what one has to do with the other. What are you getting at in reference to the argument that the patent w…

Yes I’m in the USA. I just mentioned that because nobody I know is paying $800/mo. They are buying compounded injections online.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#116

Post by barbazoo »

sbrother wrote: post #106
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> you can't fill a foreign prescription without having a local doctor sign off on it This is how medical tourism typically works.

Is that process that can happen online? Or does it require the patient being physically present in Canada?

Can be done virtually but you might have to use a VPN or even lie about your place of residence.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#117

Post by Marsymars »

pedalpete wrote: post #3

I thought I had a decent handle on patent law, but maybe I'm missing something here. Yes, the patent won't be valid for Canada, but you can't import a product into the US which would infringe on a US patent. So, though there may be a small amount that would slip through the cracks, it isn't as if anyone in the US can now manufacture Semaglutide and distribute it. Canada is such a small market, that many companies don…

> So, though there may be a small amount that would slip through the cracks

Probably depends on enforcement, price delta, and various other variables.

e.g. something like a quarter of smartphones sold in Brazil are smuggled in, more than a small amount slipping through the cracks.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#118

Post by 1oooqooq »

vitorgrs wrote: post #31

In Brazil it will expire in July 2026. It's pretty relevant as it's kinda already announced they will put the generics on the public health care (SUS) for free... Which is big deal as an Ozempic shot costs almost the same as the minimum wage. This year they already did an analysis to include Ozempic, but it was denied, probably because of the cost difference... But they were trying on justice to extend the patent...

being free means taxpayers will pay. and being on the public system means it will be prescribed only for health risk, just like plastic surgery already is. you don't see people getting nose jobs just because.

Re: Novo Nordisk's Canadian Mistake

#119

Post by HDThoreaun »

tavavex wrote: post #56

The whole story seems utterly insane to me. The fact that Novo Nordisk went back to ask for a refund of $250 they paid for the patent in 2017 shows that there was active intent behind this, this wasn't just some internal disconnect between payment systems that prevented the money from being sent to the government. Who at NN thought that saving, what, ~$1000 total was justified for this? I thought companies of this sc…

Apparently they can get around the government price controls by getting off the patent. I guess they figured it was better to keep prices high so americans didnt border hop but lose the exclusivity sooner
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