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Dr Trevor Marshall
Research Team
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Posted: Sun Apr 26th, 2009 01:59 |
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Those of you who have tried to get Benicar approved through Merck, and its spinoff Medco, will know that it is almost impossible.
I have suspected for some time that the MP is on a 'hit list' with these companies, as a pattern emerged in their handling of inquiries from myself, and MP members.
Previously, I noted when a Federal judge stated that this was the most inethical company ever to be in his courtroom.
Well, now some emails have now surfaced which show that Merck specifically drew up 'hit-lists' of academics and doctors who they disagreed with. In the case of the MP, they contacted me (many years ago) to see if I would substitute the Merck drug 'Cozaar' instead of Benicar, and, when I explained why their drug was inferior, you all started having trouble getting insurance claims approved.
Here is the article:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25272600-2702,00.html
So it is best to avoid any insurer who uses Medco to process their benefits, and enclose a copy of this news article with any appeal you might lodge with your insurer if you have been denied in the past, noting that Medco has apparently singled out the use of Benicar in the MP for 'special treatment' and, IMO, put Doctors through the wringer if they tried to advocate for their patients 
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TikBitten
Member in Phase 3
| Joined: | Thu Mar 13th, 2008 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 58 |
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Offline
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Posted: Tue Apr 28th, 2009 08:50 |
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To all-
For whatever this is worth, I recently switched to Olmecip (generic Benicar here in the U.S. market, not sure of its trade name in other countries) and it seems, frankly, more effective/productive/potent than Benicar on the 6 hr cycle. And the great thing, it costs (if purchased online @ planetdrugsdirect.com) 1/4th to 1/6th of typical monthly "Brand" Benicar prescriptions. Also, if I'm not mistaken, it's the generic alternative to Benciar in many countries, including Canada, so there's probably little doubt as to its chemical equivalency....
Q1) But I am wondering have any other MP'ers had similar experiences?
Q2) Also, for those involved or employed in the pharmaceutical industry, can we confirm as to whether Olmecip is "AB" or "BIO" compatible?
I'm under the impression "AB" is considered the higher standard so the answer would be interesting, but clearly not definitive, as Olmesartan's immediate effects (rather then delayed effects) may be more desirable under MP dosing schedules...
Regards,
TB
Last edited on Tue Apr 28th, 2009 09:07 by TikBitten
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Dx: Borreliosis/Neurborreliosis 8/05|25SecD=46 1,25SecD=62 10/07|25SecD and sun avoidance since 10/07|Using NoIRs since 3/08|25SecD=18 3/08|Ph1 3/08|25SecD=17 6/08|ModPh2 6/08|Ph2 9/08|Ph3 1/09|25SecD=13 3/09|25SecD=10 5/09|25SecD=11 7/09
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Dr Trevor Marshall
Research Team
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Posted: Tue Apr 28th, 2009 10:13 |
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TB, while I was in Prague, I had the opportunity to meet somebody who had imported 5Kg of bulk Olmesartan Medoxomil from one of the Chinese manufacturers, and I have the Chinese quality control assay details in from of me.
The impurities they expect are primarily residual solvents. Acetone, Ethyl Acetate and DMF were not detectable, while Butanone (MEK) was at the 2088ppm level in this batch. Loss on drying was 0.27%, residual after ignition was 0.14%, and Chromatographic purity 99.4%
Impurities using HPLC were measured at 0.18% for any individual component, 0.60% max.
It would be interesting to find out what impurity causes the 'butter' smell in Sankyo's product, and at least we now have guidance from this assay. I haven't personally noted any similar smell in any of the batches of the Indian Olmecip tablets.
The big difference between the Olmecip and Benicar formulations is the coating which Sankyo put on their tablets to slow dissolution until it enters the GI tract. For people with really disturbed GI tracts, like mine has been from time to time, it does help not to have the Olmecip pill dissolve in the Trachea and 'get stuck' there. Conversely, the Olmecip does dissolve more quickly once it gets to the stomach.
For years I have broken my Benicar in halves before swallowing them, as I found this gives the best chance they will quickly get to the stomach and start doing their job...
So you raise some interesting questions, and these are topics which I have on the agenda for my next round of discussions at West China Hospital. I would dearly like to be able to get slow-release and injectable formulations made available there, so that their patients would not suffer from the problems we have been encountering in the West.
Sankyo did sue one of the Chinese Olmesartan manufacturers a few years ago, and the Chinese Court ruled that Olmesartan Medoxomil could be manufactured in China, but only if it was used for 'research' purposes. My understanding is that there are currently ten manufacturers of Olmesartan Medoxomil in China.
It is great to have this assay purity data, as the FDA file on Sankyo's purity is redacted almost in its entirety:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/nda/2002/21-286_Benicar_chemr.pdf
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Ruth Goold
Health Professional
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Posted: Tue Apr 28th, 2009 16:45 |
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FWIW: The Canadian olmesartan pills componded by Yetvart (I don't know where he imports the bulk olmesartan from) also have the (rancid!) butter smell, but it is much less potent than with the (newly-available in Canada) Sankyo formulation. I have not noticed any difference in response to them, but I am not much use as a test case. Have seldom needed or used extra for palliation,
Ruth
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03/02/07 Ph 1 MP; 2001: Pulmonary sarc; 01/04/07: 125 D=110pmol/L(45.8 pg/ml)| 25D=20.8 ng/ml: 04/07 19.2: 07/07 11?: 09/07 16.5: 11/07 <10.0: 01/08 <10.0: 05/08 10 ng/ml. Ca. Elocom (ears). diphenhydramine 25 mg. Adidas EE glasses outside. NoIRs
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Dr Trevor Marshall
Research Team
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Posted: Sun May 3rd, 2009 15:09 |
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This Aussie Vioxx trial is coming up with some real gems of information:
Merck Publishes Phony Peer-Review Journal"many a primary care physician was given literature from Merck that said, "As published in Australasian Journal of Bone and Joint Medicine, Fosamax outperforms all other medications...." Said doctor, or even the average researcher wouldn't know that the journal is bogus. In fact, knowing that the journal is published by Elsevier gives it credibility! "
http://blog.bioethics.net/2009/05/merck-makes-phony-peerreview-journal/
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