Jump to content

The Cost Of Pet Drugs


Willem
 Share

Recommended Posts

...just read that this afoxolaner drug wasn't actually developed by Nexgard respectively Merial (Merial is the company that produces also Frontline and Heartguard), but by Du Pont De Nemours. They - Merial - must have bought the rights and have now the patent. Merial was formed as a JV from Sanofi (Sanofi-Adventis) and Merck, and Merck is also the manufacturer of Bravecto...looks like they have it all covered, not much competition left...maybe I should invest some $$ in Merck shares...(seeing that everyone is happy with their pricing :D )

Edited by Willem
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 51
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Denali are you sure that dog Revolution is safe for cats? My understanding was that the dog version had different ingredients to the cat version.

ETA Never mind I just googled and saw same ingredient, different strength. I wonder why then the dog version doesn't cover as many parasites as the cat version?

Edited by *kirty*
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The price is the price it's your choice to buy it or another product. Good or bad it's the free market system.

Exactly.

Everyone complains about the cost of everything but it would be no use if the price of everything was controlled. People run businesses for profit not as charities or our society wouldn't work at all.

Its up to the consumer to shop around for the best price & decide do they really need this item or not.

There are cheaper alternatives of controlling fleas & worms & making the decision of how much chemical product does my dog need, which can be based on environment & lifestyle.

Basically if you want a product you have to pay the asking price for it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Denali are you sure that dog Revolution is safe for cats? My understanding was that the dog version had different ingredients to the cat version.

ETA Never mind I just googled and saw same ingredient, different strength. I wonder why then the dog version doesn't cover as many parasites as the cat version?

Nope, exactly the same thing!

Other spot ons do differ though. Revolution is the only one with the exact same composition i believe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Denali are you sure that dog Revolution is safe for cats? My understanding was that the dog version had different ingredients to the cat version.

ETA Never mind I just googled and saw same ingredient, different strength. I wonder why then the dog version doesn't cover as many parasites as the cat version?

Nope, exactly the same thing!

Other spot ons do differ though. Revolution is the only one with the exact same composition i believe.

Frontline / fipronil is the same drug different volumes for different sizes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drug prices are mostly set by the drug company's calculation of what people are willing to pay.

The most spectacular example of this is Ivermectin and pyrantel paomate . . . the two active ingredients in HeartGuard Plus. If I buy Ivermectin for cattle, a dose sufficient for a dog costs under 50 cents. Pyrantel is equally inexpensive when you buy the large bottle as sold for treating human babies for pinworm.

For most pet meds, the active ingredient costs far less than the marketing and packaging. So it makes sense that price has little relationship to the quantity of meds.

As for research costs . . . most pet meds were developed for human or livestock applications. The main research costs are a set of trials to establish safety and effectiveness, and some marketing research.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

....Everyone complains about the cost of everything but it would be no use if the price of everything was controlled. People run businesses for profit not as charities or our society wouldn't work at all.

...'profit' yes, but not without complying with the laws....that's why price rigging / price manipulation is illegal also for our society...

There are cheaper alternatives of controlling fleas & worms & making the decision of how much chemical product does my dog need, which can be based on environment & lifestyle.

FYI: this is about drugs that work reliable against 'paralytic ticks' - and it seems that Merck & Co. achieved nearly a monopoly in this sector (Bayer / Advantix is the only competitive drug left on the market? ...TBC)...and monopolies are absolutely against the interests of every society.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drug prices are mostly set by the drug company's calculation of what people are willing to pay.

The most spectacular example of this is Ivermectin and pyrantel paomate . . . the two active ingredients in HeartGuard Plus. If I buy Ivermectin for cattle, a dose sufficient for a dog costs under 50 cents. Pyrantel is equally inexpensive when you buy the large bottle as sold for treating human babies for pinworm.

For most pet meds, the active ingredient costs far less than the marketing and packaging. So it makes sense that price has little relationship to the quantity of meds.

As for research costs . . . most pet meds were developed for human or livestock applications. The main research costs are a set of trials to establish safety and effectiveness, and some marketing research.

yep!!!...(hey sandgruber, looks like we have more in common than our dislike of anti-social media :D )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Denali are you sure that dog Revolution is safe for cats? My understanding was that the dog version had different ingredients to the cat version.

ETA Never mind I just googled and saw same ingredient, different strength. I wonder why then the dog version doesn't cover as many parasites as the cat version?

Nope, exactly the same thing!

Other spot ons do differ though. Revolution is the only one with the exact same composition i believe.

Frontline / fipronil is the same drug different volumes for different sizes.

So is Advantage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Denali are you sure that dog Revolution is safe for cats? My understanding was that the dog version had different ingredients to the cat version.

ETA Never mind I just googled and saw same ingredient, different strength. I wonder why then the dog version doesn't cover as many parasites as the cat version?

Nope, exactly the same thing!

Other spot ons do differ though. Revolution is the only one with the exact same composition i believe.

Frontline / fipronil is the same drug different volumes for different sizes.

So is Advantage.

Well there you go.

Quite a few. I forgot about frontline, but did know that one. Had not looked into advantage.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you know why the dog revolution doesn't cover as many parasites as the cat one?

...selamectin (ingredient in Revolution) treats roundworms and hookworms in cats, but not in dogs...I assume the reason for this is somehow linked to the different digestion systems? ...selamectin is also only effective against brown ticks and some other ticks, but not against paralytic ticks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was checking up on economics of the pet meds industry. Some may find this article interesting

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2014/12/18/drug-companies-loosen-purse-strings-to-woo-vets/20492301/

A clip from the first few paragraphs of the article

For five days, the action never stopped at the McCormick Place convention center, as more than 9,000 veterinarians and technicians flocked to see the latest medicines and attend clinical workshops organized by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Around the show floor, the world's biggest drugmakers had set up exhibits two stories tall, with enough flashing lights and giant twirling logos to resemble a Detroit car show.

The vets, the nation's last line of defense against unsafe drugs getting to animals, were receiving a blizzard of meals, books, electronic gadgets and speaking fees from drugmakers.

The convention revealed just one of the many ways corporate money influences pet health care — from research to treatment to sales — threatening the objectivity of those prescribing drugs to your dog or cat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that is really discrediting the vets. The vast majority of vets want to help you and your pet. They are not in cahoots with big pharma companies.

If anyone cared to do a bit more research you would find that there really isn't much money in veterinary industry. Practice owners and specialists certainly earn more, but GP vets aren't rolling in cash. New grad vets starting wage is $40-50,000. They also have tens of thousands of student debt. They will never earn the money people think they do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that is really discrediting the vets. The vast majority of vets want to help you and your pet. They are not in cahoots with big pharma companies.

If anyone cared to do a bit more research you would find that there really isn't much money in veterinary industry. Practice owners and specialists certainly earn more, but GP vets aren't rolling in cash. New grad vets starting wage is $40-50,000. They also have tens of thousands of student debt. They will never earn the money people think they do.

Agree with this.

They have the same degree cost as human doctors, with a starting salary of 50% less..

And it doesn't increase as much as human doctors either. None of the vets i know are in cahoots with big pharma, but maybe some are :shrug:

And despite all thiis, i am still studying to be one :laugh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Snap Trifecta! Was about to post the link...

Whilst I have the utmost respect for the profession, I agree there should be a higher level of disclosure...

Yes, it was enlightening, but I was disappointed the lady shown at the end feeding raw had two seriously overweight dogs :(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share


×
×
  • Create New...