Animas Vibe pump

[Spiker]

The drug and pharmaceutical companies always claim that the reason they are charging the consumers (us) or the nhs (oh us again) so much is to claim back the huge cost of the development but several years later when the have spent 10 million on development but gained 10 billion in profit they keep on charging that's the greed part.

I must get my pension plan to buy some shares in these companies that make their investment back a thousand times over and then keep on making more money for free. I'd be able to retire early.

Shame they don't actually exist eh?

 

[Vanster07]

1. "Pfizer reported $2.05 billion in Viagra sales in 2012, according to the company's financial filings. But that represents only 3.5% of the company's total revenue and makes Viagra only it's sixth best selling drug. Its patent protections for use of the drug to treat erectile dysfunction runs through 2020.6 May 2013," you'll find this if you enter a "what company makes viagra" on a google search,

But of course that's just one company and one drug.....//.. And yes if your lucky enough or clever enough to be invested in the right company at the right time yes your pension would be very good. Don't exist eh???????

However I think Viagra is now dead money to Pfizer because it's intellectual rights must have ended so others can make and supply at a much cheaper or should I say affordable rate

 

[Spiker]

However I think Viagra is now dead money to Pfizer because it's intellectual rights must have ended so others can make and supply at a much cheaper or should I say affordable rate

Yes, that's how it works. Patents are granted for a limited period, the drug company invests the money to develop the drug, makes a monopoly profit during the patent period, then the drug goes off patent so that everyone benefits.

The numbers you are quoting don't make any sense unless they are put in context of Pfizer's total R & D spend vs profits (not vs sales). Big pharma is not the gravy train you think it is. It's a venture capital industry where large sums are staked and often lost on development of a drug that goes nowhere. Some work and some don't. The pharma companies pay the R & D costs, regardless of whether the drug is marketable or not.

 

[Vanster07]

The numbers I quoted come from the net as I said, but I have no further details on any drugs companies profits but I think the quote makes sense to everyone big money is a big risk still doesn't excuse companies like Pfizer from creaming so much money for so long from organisations like the NHS,
I see your point on the costs but these huge profits should be ploughed into new medical research, drugs or equipment, to help the world but I get a sneaky feeling it's not to help humanity but more to help share holders profits and pensions and I think that's wrong so we will have to agree to disagree on that point!!!!

Funny thing about Viagra is it was discovered by accident, they were experimenting on people in order to find a blood pressure pill but a different side effect was discovered all the blokes kept getting hard, gold dust.

 

[Spiker]

The Guardian in 2011 (quoting a big 4 consulting firm) reported Pfizer's annual return on investment across all its R & D spending as 8%, down from 11%. Hardly robber baron capitalism. I will stick with my existing pension plan thanks.

 

[Vanster07]

Oh matey maybe 2011 was just a poor year but as I said before lets just agree to disagree,

I just started on this accu chek insight pump and i'm adjusting/upping my units per hour every two days trying to get a better blood glucose level than before when on long and short acting insulin (which was already pretty tight).

Do any of you experienced pump uses remember how long it took tinkering before they got it better than before they started on a pump?

I know it will depends on the individual and where you start but is their an average time scale, as I'm sick of running hyper

 

[smaynard]

Pumps are funded by NHS but the Sensors and transmitters for the CGM are self funded. Two pumps which have a built in CGM receiver are Animas Vibe and Medtronic 640G. Animas Vibe uses the Dexcom G4 sensors/transmitters and Medtronic do their own transmitter and Enlite sensors. I will be getting Medtronic 640G pump in the next few weeks (fingers crossed).

Hi Spicey245, my two pennies worth may be well overdue as it sounds like you've already made a firm decision, but in case not I wanted to share my experiences with you. My young daughter started her pumping and CGM life with Medtronic. We were big fans of the Medtronic pump and the Enlite sensors. At the 4 year mark, when the NHS replaces pumps, I did loads of research on whether to stick with Medtronic or switch to Animas....I decided to switch to Animas.

In my view, hands down, Medtronic is a better pump. Medtronic customer support is also streets ahead of Animas, in my experience (which I think is particularly important for someone new to pumping and CGM).

However, the Dexcom CGM is LIGHT YEARS ahead of Enlite......with Enlite we consistently achieved Hba1c's of between 6.4 and 6.6. First quarter on the Dexcom and we knocked 1% off....and this wasn't fluke, the highest Hba1c she's had since the switch is 5.6.

Also, finger pricks.....who likes them? On Enlite we had to do lots of them, the accuracy wasn't there to be confident on correct measures. Now, unless there's something odd occurring it's only 2 a day. 3 weeks (routinely) without having to change a sensor vs. 6 days with Enlite is just an outstanding plus (and we're lucky enough not to have to pay for sensors....but just from a practical perspective it's fantastic).

I've not done much research recently, when is the next generation of Enlite due for release? If it's soon then Medtronic is definitely a good company to 'work' with....if it's not and you still have an option to go with Animas that would be my strong recommendation.

Best of luck which ever way you go!

 

[Spicey245]

Thanks for your feedback @smaynard. I will be going on the Medtronic (fingers crossed in next couple of months). I think they have just brought out the second gen of Enlite sensors recently (I think that's correct?). I chose the Medtronic purely because it is a newer pump with more features and I'm hoping that the Medtronic sensors will improve in time. I also will not be using CGM full time as I'll be self funding it but thought it would be a useful tool to have alongside the pump. In four years I will do my research all over again.

 

[Vanster07]

It's certainly a tough decision because of cost,

I've got an idea!!!!! CALLING OUT out to any diabetic mags,forums etc if you want myself a man and a female (Spicey) in completely different parts of the UK to try out all the latest CGM and pump combos for a month at a time, then give a detailed analysis from everyday type 1's then I'm happy to do it, I assume Spicey is too???

Oh you'll have to fund it!!!!

But you will get to publish it and give those of us who want a CGM pump combo the best idea which to get before paying out a fortune!!!

 

[JANROU]

Vanster07 Can I join in and offer my services too!

 

[Vanster07]

Hey why not I'm not paying but I'll have to check with the sponsors first....

 

[Spicey245]

It's certainly a tough decision because of cost,

I've got an idea!!!!! CALLING OUT out to any diabetic mags,forums etc if you want myself a man and a female (Spicey) in completely different parts of the UK to try out all the latest CGM and pump combos for a month at a time, then give a detailed analysis from everyday type 1's then I'm happy to do it, I assume Spicey is too???

Oh you'll have to fund it!!!!

But you will get to publish it and give those of us who want a CGM pump combo the best idea which to get before paying out a fortune!!!

Ooh yes, I like that idea a lot! ;-)