A recent investor presentation from Collagenex shows some interesting insights into how Collagenex are promoting Oracea.
Oracea is promoted as safe and effective for long term use. It was reported that the average duration of Oracea therapy is 4 months, compared to an average of 2.5 months for other rosacea prescriptions.
52% of Oracea prescriptions are refills – the presentation suggests that this is a high refill rate thus implying high patient satisfaction.
Of the 14 million adults in the US who have rosacea, only 1.4 million currently seek treatment. The current value of rosacea prescriptions is greater than $500m a year – leading to the implication that the rosacea treatment market has plenty of room for growth. The dermatology market as a whole is presented as a $8.9 billion opportunity.
Collagenex are holding up to 6 patents relating to Oracea. These patents cover Oracea’s method of use, mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic profile (i.e. how it is absorbed and acts over time).
Their aim is to generate 85% of rosacea prescriptions by targeting 5,600 dermatologists. Collagenex need to market Oracea effectively as they have a some good competition from generic doxycycline (50mg a day). As I’ve mentioned before we should thank Collagenex for proving that low dose doxycycline is an effective and safe treatment for the papules and pustules of rosacea.
From my reading of their graphs, Oracea is now selling over 1.2 millions units a month.
Your turn to write something: How much are you paying for a month of Oracea ? Were you convinced to try it by your doctor and has it worked ? Have you been able to try generic doxycycline as an alternative ? Please let us know in the comments below.
16 comments ↓
Another thing too… Collagenex has a trial posted on clinicaltrials.org for Oracea for the treatment of blepharitis with rosacea. So it looks like might be going after approval for ocular components as well as P&Ps.
I used oracea for three months… it cost me $5 a month after rebates.
Thanks for the tip Ben. The trial is called
Efficacy and Safety of COL-101 for the Treatment of Blepharitis in Patients With Facial Rosacea
and can be found here http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00560703
I assume that this trial will show similar success to using generic doxycycline to treat blepharitis and the other symptoms of ocular rosacea.
Interestingly there is also a patent I found related to treating ocular rosacea and facial rosacea together – http://rosacea-support.org/patent-ocular-rosacea-and-acne-rosacea.html
I just checked, and what do you know, this patent is owned by a VP of Collagenex.
davidp.
After the $35 off from the coupon given to me by dermatologist the price for one month of Oracea was $143 and change. I have Part D and they pay nothing. Can not afford to stay on this. Real problem with ocular rosacea and at the same time I began this drug, I also began using Restasis. Big improvement in eyes, but also big improvement in skin. I am now taking 50mg tetracycline and I will see what I look like in a month. E.Finn
If you have to pay that much for Oracea, I would ask the doc for generic doxycycline, 50mg. Only $4 at walmart! Not exactly the same as oracea, but very close.
Took the Oracea for a month. Very pricey. Took Ben’s advice and went back on generic doxycycline. Also advised to do so by eye doctor. Things went downhill and so the next month Iwent back on Oracea and 3 weeks into month things are improving. This time it cost $115. According to info I read they are recommending short term with this. We will see.
How long did you take the generic doxycycline for Elizabeth ? was it one month ? Did you doctor advise taking it at the same time each day ?
Oracea worked for about a month and then things went down hill quickly. I had to go back on daily mynocycline, which I find to be much more effective against my p&ps.
I have mild oracea on nose and cheeks with severe outbreaks most likely enhance during hormone variences. With insurance and rebate I am paying
$ 5.39/161.56.
$161.56 for a 30 day supply.
$5.36 per capsule.
Miami FL
Wow Barbara that is a scary amount to pay if you didn’t have insurance.
The comment I left remarks that “I am paying $161.56 every month for Oracea medication.
The daily cost of $5.39 for each dosage daily.
In Miami, with the Collagenex discount and the persription discount from my major medical insurance.
I am healthy and self employed in Miami paying United Health Care/Golden Rule $ 1,200 a month for health insurance /a major medical plan. I have no eye, dental,or any other service included. Perscription discounts and doctor office visit copays that most people have are not in this plan. The plan pays only for catastrophe. Like when your heart and lungs fall out and you are walking into the emergency in hope that they can be put back in. My cost is over five dollars each day for Oracea. This is what insurence companies call “shared responsibility”.
Sorry I wasn’t being clear. $5.39 per table seems like a huge amount, all the more so considering that you do have some insurance.
Would your doctor and you consider generic doxycycline as an alternative ? From the comments above it looks like it might be a reasonable alternative for some.
davidp.
My price is 5.39 per tablet. Monthly cost is almost the cost of a car payment for a VW Jetta! I am definately going to ask about generic doxycycline .
i was prescribed oracea with metrogel initially.
my insurance company told me it was covered under my plan but i had a 100% co-pay ( i think that is thier way of saying it wasnt covered )
the total cost was $216 a month or $7.20 a day.
after talking to my dr again he ordered doxycycl 50 mg once a day with mertonidazol twice a day.
its been almost two months and im not seeing much if any difference.
would oracea work better or not
I had sever untreated Rosacea with terrible P&P’s………was on Doxy for about 2 months and it worked, but I got to where i couldn’t swallow…so the doc took me off and put me on Solodyn with Metro 1%. The 6th day, i noticed i was drying up………35 days on it now and my face is completely clear of P&P’s. They have a prescription card for the first 3 months $10.00. Also doing Lysene…..seems to working on redness…..
Hope this helps
Oracea worked great for me…but price keeps going up!
Refill this time was $340.00! I declined.
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