A 37 year old friend has Multiple Sclerosis and can't afford $1,900 for the drug - help!

[Maraya1969]

The drug name is Capoxone and I can't even find who manufactures it! Usually if you look up a drug the insert information is right on the top of the list of links. When I use keywords Capoxone and Manufacturer I get very little.

Her doctor is trying to get the drug paid but has had no success so far. She is not on disability and does not want to go on disability unless she has to. But she is losing her eye site and has to taken this drug.

I have been calling people and trying to do what I can and I am at a loss. If anyone has anything to add I would be very grateful.

EDIT: to add that I checked with the Partnership for Prescription assistance and when I typed the word "capoxone" into the drug line it came up with no results. So I guess they do not pay for that drug.

[uppityperson]

1. Copaxone? I think it is spelled this way. Try these links.

http://www.copaxone.com/
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Meds-GlatiramerAcetate_m.asp
http://www.drugs.com/copaxone.html
http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/Copaxone.html

[MADem]

2. CAPOXONE by Teva Neuroscience, LLC

http://www.uspatentserver.com/690/6903100.html

[undeterred]

3. I go to a neurologist for migraine but he also sees a lot of MS patients

and I know his nurse spends at least half her time applying to the drug companies for meds for patients without insurance.

Teva Neuroscience makes Capoxone: http://www.tevaneuro.com/

[ret5hd]

4. Teva Neuroscience

[Fridays Child]

5. Try contacting the manufacturer, directly.

Good luck! :hug:

[uppityperson]

6. Double check the spelling to make sure of which it is.

Capoxone or Copaxone. I really really really hate it when they name things so closely.

[Nite Owl]

7. It's manufactured by Teva Pharmaneuticals

http://www.tevapharm.com/copaxone/

Copaxone®
The first innovative drug to be developed in Israel and to receive FDA approval, Copaxone® is a unique immunomodulator therapy for the treatment of Relapsing- Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Copaxone® is the only non-interferon agent available for MS.


There is contact information at the site. They are an Israeli company.

Edited to add:
Here's a website that may help
https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

[zbird]

8. Shared Solutions has an assistance program. See inside.

Teva Neuroscience, Inc.
COPAXONE® Medication Assistance Program
(glatiramer acetate, for injection)
Conditions:
Multiple sclerosis (relapsing-remitting)
Contact:
Shared Solutions at 1-800-887-8100

[liberalhistorian]

9. What about applying for Medicaid?

What is her financial/employment situation right now? If she has less than $2,000 total assets then she may qualify for Medicaid. Unfortunately, if she makes too much money (which, in the case of Medicaid, is ANY amount of money) she wouldn't qualify.

What about checking with local, state and/or national multiple sclerosis organizations? They would likely have some good informational resources as to how to obtain needed drugs, etc.

I understand why she doesn't want to go on disability, but it may be her only option if all else fails.

[Maraya1969]

12. She probably has too much money. $2,000 is not a lot to have now a days

Why do they put that level so damned low??? I mean if you own a car you have over $2000 in assets unless it is falling apart.

[napi21]

10. Have her callyour local social services, your representative, your

State Senator, and also ask someone in the Dr. office for some suggestions.

A friend of mine lives in Pgh. and had a similar problem with a several different drugs. I assume your friend is also in Fl, and they usually have a pretty wide array of social services available, it's just really hard to find out about them.

A close associate of mine is a financial Dir. of a major hospital and I called her about the friend who was having trouble getting his meds. She said there are many programs, but some oare so rarely used, the first person you talk to on the phone just never heard about them.

The other option of course is to call the Mfg. directly and see if THEY have any suggestions for you.

[blondie58]

11. my best wishes for your friend- it is a frustrating, unpredictable disease

and it looks like people already have come up with some great sites for you.

But, DO check the MS Society. They will do everything within their power to help.

I happen to have MS myself and was on Copaxone for about a year. The problem with the MS drugs, are they work in about 35% of the patients- work, meaning that they hopefully reduce the number and the severity of any exacerbations that you might have. It is a trial and error thing, try one of the four approved disease modifying drugs and see if it works. Unfortunately, in my case, the Copaxone did not work. My latest MRI after taking it showed a brand new, active lesion, so my neuro took me off of it. I am on Rebif now and it seems to be working.

I am grateful that my insurance pays for it. When I first started, 'injectables' were $10 co-pay for a month. Now, they have been raised to $50. But considering it is around the same range per month, I am darn lucky.

You're a sweet friend. Thank you for that. Those of us with MS don't need anyones sympathy, but we do need friends that will just care about us and treat us like they used to.

[Lex]

13. My SO is on Rebif too

and it seems to be doing well for her so far.

She was on Avonex for a few years and then her neurologist switched her.

[blondie58]

14. and what is weird to me is-

that Avonex and Rebif are the SAME drug, but Rebif is given 3x weekly subqutaneously, whereas Avonex is 1x weekly, intramuscularly. So, you keep more of the drug in your body throughout the entire week.

Rebif was able to break the Orphan Drug Act with their Prisms study.

I also started on Avonex. Sure wish that Reibf would have been an option at first.

[fed-up]

15. my sis has MS and was able to get the company to pay for one of her drugs

she contacted the manufacturer directly and they somehow found a way to qualify her


good luck