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Steve, Viracept is available in 250 mg tabs (#250/bottle; wholesale cost of $560). Therefore, wholesale ("Red Book") price is $2.07/tab with an approx retail price of $2.40/tab (prices may vary in different areas of the country/world). Therefore, 3 tabs TID = 9/day = $18.63 (pharmacy cost) = $21.60 (approx retail cost). 5 tabs (1250 mg) BID = 10/day = $20.70 (pharmacy cost) = $24.07 (approx retail cost). The Viracept powder (pediatric use) costs $60 for 144 gms (5 ounces); ? dosage (I don't treat children). With the BID schedule, the annual cost would be approx $8785 and, for the TID schedule, annual cost is approx $7885. Actually, there's not that much "markup" in price compared to other medications, and, considering ancillary pharmacy costs (eg., pharmacist's salary, overhead), there's really not that much profit being made, IMO. PS: Hope I did the math correctly. Tried to quickly answer your query (sorry, didn't see it earlier). |
