Fumaderm what's it's future?

[Fred]

What is the future of Fumaderm?

The medical use of fumaric acid esters (FAE) was first described in 1959 by the German chemist W. Schweckendiek who reported on successful internal and external treatment of his own psoriasis. In 1994 a defined mixture of DMF and the Ca, Mg and Zn salts of the corresponding monoethylester, ethylhydrogen fumarate, was registered in Germany as Fumaderm by Fumapharm AG.

I have noticed a lot more members of Psoriasis Club talking about Fumaderm, I've also noticed that it's been slowly creeping into the NHS in the UK and getting prescribed by the NHS even though in the link Jim posted here RE: Long term fumaderm...?? it says "Although unlicensed in the UK, Fumaderm® is used by specialist dermatology centres."

Here in France they are now starting trials off it too, maybe others will know about other countries that are using it if so please add.

Fumaderm has shown good results and going by what members say on Psoriasis Club it does seem to be a good option for some, and I started to think this is great news if the UK and France are now promoting it as it will cost less to the health economy of said countires.

BUT: Then I started to get my other hat on and thought WHY all of a sudden have they started using it when it's been there all this time.

#1 Could it be the UK and France still haven't forgot the war and wouldn't buy it? No both countries buy German cars and other goods so we can rule that stupid idea out.

#2 Could it be they have just been waiting to see if there are any significant side affects to stop them using it? No they use the Bio treatments that haven't been around so long as Fumaderm.

#3 Now the third theory: Biogen Idec Acquired Fumapharm AG in 2006. Biogen Idec is one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies. They develop medicines that change the lives of people living with neurodegenerative diseases, hematologic conditions and autoimmune disorders.

They also make Tecfidera a new drug they are working on to treat MS which is basically Fumaderm in another can so to speak, this means the health systems of the UK and France want/need this new drug so they feel obliged to start using Fumaderm which they are probably getting at a good price.

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*This is about Fumaderm as a brand and not what Caroline or Bill are using.

You can find their threads here:
Dimethylfumarates and Psoriasis
Bill's pure dimethylfumarate thread

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My opinion is that Fumaderm will stay as it is for Psoriasis patients, but I do feel the price will slowly creep up to way above what it is now and could even end up costing France and the UK as much as the Bio's because Biogen Idec need huge amounts of money to fund it's pipeline.

What do you think is the future for Fumaderm Now?

[jiml]

Thanks for that insight Fred
I would like to think that the price of Fumaderm would stay the same the more that it is prescribed the more Biogen will,produce and this in turn reduces the manufacturing cost which will never be passed on to the health services. We all have heard of the price of the raw material from Bill the stuff is dirt cheap. They are making it into pills of 120 mg and charging around £2 a pill..... Very reasonable I agree. There is a huge profit in there and if they can widen the distribution around the world even at the low price. You are talking massive profits enough to satisfy investors and research and development
Bearing in mind that there patent runs out in a few years,and I am sure there are pharma companies out in the Far East that are geared up to get in on this lucrative market.
Just my opinion
Jim

[Caroline]

The fun is.... Or maybe even not, that Psorinovo was probably earlier available than fumaderm....

Continuing... Fred we do have an agreement on a thought, and that thought is that biogen will misuse its power to raise the price of fumaderm and DMF as a whole.
Currently they are trying to patent the production methods of DMF. They have made this patent so wide that almost every production method will fall under it.

Personally I think, and I will fight for that, that politics and jurisdiction should come into and do for once something sensible. The way that now a pill of 2 cents, in Biogens way will cost 45 dollars is pure criminally. There are no other words for that.
This product can be an enormous jump in the treatment of psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease (yes, it will also work for that). A cheap medication that will help thousands of sufferers.

Even it may, and I hope so, a black market of DMF, hi hi, just like real drugs, and we will have to hide in street corners to get some DMF.

[Caroline]

Oh by the way, Jim, unfortunately I do not agree with you.
I think you are too naive.

[Caroline]

Thanks for that insight Fred
I would like to think that the price of Fumaderm would stay the same the more that it is prescribed the more Biogen will,produce and this in turn reduces the manufacturing cost which will never be passed on to the health services. We all have heard of the price of the raw material from Bill the stuff is dirt cheap. They are making it into pills of 120 mg and charging around £2 a pill..... Very reasonable I agree. There is a huge profit in there and if they can widen the distribution around the world even at the low price. You are talking massive profits enough to satisfy investors and research and development
Bearing in mind that there patent runs out in a few years,and I am sure there are pharma companies out in the Far East that are geared up to get in on this lucrative market.
Just my opinion
Jim

Four times to high. My pills are 50 eurocents