This is real.

  • RunawayFixer@lemmy.world
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    20 hours ago

    The generic name for Revlimid is Lenalidomide.
    "Since its initial approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2005 for the treatment of certain cancers, the price of Lenalidomide, manufactured by Celgene, has risen significantly. At its launch, the cost per pill was $218, equating to an annual cost of approximately $55,000 for a standard regimen. Following FDA approval for multiple myeloma in mid-2006, the price per pill increased to $280, or about $70,560 annually. As of 2023, the price per pill had reached $892.

    Since its approval, Revlimid cost has increased 26 times. According to a deposition by a Celgene executive, marked as highly confidential, the manufacturing cost of each Revlimid pill has remained approximately $0.25 throughout this period. Celgene claimed its patent protected Revlimid until 2027, and has engaged in several practices to prevent other manufacturers from producing a generic version of the drug, including refusing to sell the drug to other drug makers for testing purposes." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenalidomide

    Lenalidomide became available as a generic medicine in the Netherlands in 2022. The price in the Netherlands then dropped from €218 to €0.90 per pill. https://www.margriet.nl/gezondheid/kankermedicijn-revlimid-goedkoper-waarom~b43e1f4b/