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CounterPunch Exclusives

Free Market Ozempic Will Make a Huge Difference to Tens of Millions of People

Photo by David Trinks

The New York Times had an interesting piece on the implications of Ozempic becoming available as a generic in India, China, and several other countries. The drop in price could eventually be close to 99 percent in these countries.

According to the piece, Ozempic sells for close to $300 for a month’s dosage in developing countries like China and India. It is expected to sell for around $15 for a month’s dosage when generics are introduced, and the price could eventually fall to around $3 when there is enough competition in the market.

The price differentials in the United States and other wealthy countries are even larger. People without insurance can pay as much as $1,000 for a month’s dosage, although discounts are available that can cut this price in half. The drug still has several more years of patent protection in the United States due to provisions that were put into law, due to the pharmaceutical industry’s lobbying, that extend protection when the FDA approval process takes a long time.

Drugs are Cheap: Patent Monopolies Make Them Expensive

The piece is useful for showing the dramatic difference it can make in people’s lives if drugs are available at generic prices. With rare exceptions, drugs are cheap to manufacture and distribute; however, they can end up........

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