• janNatan@lemmy.ml
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    8 months ago

    I’ve heard about shortages of the drug. Does anybody know how hard it actually is to make or if they’re manufacturing scarcity as well?

    • kingthrillgore@lemmy.ml
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      8 months ago

      Engineered Biologics involve having to make special cell cultures off engineered specimens so it’s a research forward cost. The actual production is cheap once the cultures are made.

      I think if you look deep enough you’ll find public funding in a lot of these projects like with Humira, which was funded by the UK Government and is now absurdly expensive as fuck

    • RobotToaster@mander.xyzOP
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      8 months ago

      It’s a pretty simple peptide, there’s multiple companies in China that make grey market versions.

      The scarcity seems to come from the government enforced monopoly, only a single company is officially allowed to make it and they don’t have enough machines, I imagine getting more machines takes time.

      Governments could issue compulsory licences for shortages like this, but they never do.

    • jballs@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      I personally know 3 people - who are not diabetic - who are on this drug to lose weight. It’s anecdotal evidence for sure, but it makes me think that people are seeing this as a miracle weight loss drug. Which is probably causing the shortages.

      • WamGams
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        8 months ago

        The drug is definitely over prescribed I am sure, but surely using it as preventative treatment before the person becomes diabetic is long term better than waiting for them to become diabetic, right?

        I don’t really know anything about the drug but I know it has helped some people who really need it. It is a shame it is being locked behind patents and shortages.