cicero
19 Jul 2006 23:09
|
Free recombinant factor...?
Bayer, producers of the Kogenate line of rFVIII products (treatment for haemophilia A), have recently announced a programme under which eligible haemophilia A patients may receive up to 6 infusions of Kogenate FS free of charge. The programme is open only to US citizens who are not already being treated with Kogenate FS and who are not covered by federal or state healthcare programs.
The aim for Bayer seems to be to introduce a new group of patients and healthcare professionals to the BIO-SET mixing system, which is similar to other manufacturers` needle-free mixing systems.
I have never heard of programmes like this before. Try-before-you-buy is fairly common f.ex. when buying a car, but usually you do not get to try out medicine before you decide to purchase it. Taking part is probably not risk free, since I guess there is a slight risk of developing inhibitors when switching medicine.
What do you think about this? - would you accept if you were given the opportunity?
Create reply »
|
cicero
19 Jul 2006 23:29
|
I forgot a link to Bayers webpage about the program:
http://www.kogenatefs.com/POP_trialKit.cfm
Create reply »
|
physics
20 Jul 2006 16:04
|
This is interesting. But I think I need to think twice. How about the risk that I might trigger inhibitors when I change the medicine? What is the probality?
Create reply »
|
cicero
20 Jul 2006 21:26
|
There is still quite a lot of discussion about the incidence of inhibitors. Studies have shown that up to 25% of patients develop inhibitors but the results vary. There are some indications that the risk of developing inhibitors is higher with recombinant products, like Kogenate, than with human or porcine derived products. Also, the risk is increased when switching products.
Create reply »
|
cosmosVIII
23 Jul 2006 06:34
|
It`s difficult to express an opinion about that subject because I cannot probably fully understand the context in which live the people to whom the offer is addressed...
Still, I can easily see that money can be a serious issue if your factors are paid from your own pocket, nevertheless I cannot see where to draw the line between "correct" (or ethical) marketing in this case...
If ever there are proofs that changing medicine can increase the risk of developing inhibitors, is it then honest to make such an offer because it stimulates switching?
Create reply »
|
cicero
13 Aug 2006 20:24
|
It seems Baxter has also jumped on the "free treatment sample" bandwagon. They are offering 6 free treatments with their newest FVIII product, Advate. It seems the only limitation is that the patient must not be a current Advate user, although reading between the lines, the offer may only apply to US citizens. Check the Advate website for details:
http://www.advate.com/content/trial/trial.html
As a side note, the website also announces that the Advate packaging has been reduced to one third the original size. This is great news for all who love to travel. Nothing is more annoying than having to fill half your luggage with medicine.
As far as I know, the smaller packaging in not available in Denmark yet, so it may only have been released in the US for the moment.
Create reply »
|