Revlimid Generic Appears on the Myeloma Market

A generic for Revlimid is finally available. On March 7, 2022, Teva Pharmaceuticals released lenalidomide capsules, the generic version of Revlimid, in the United States. They will come in strengths of 5mg, 10mg, 15mg, and 25mg. 

Impact on Myeloma Patients

Individuals with multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other myelodysplastic syndromes have something to cheer about. Depending on your insurance and the pharmacy you use (including receiving prescriptions in the mail), you will find a huge difference in price. It is always recommended to call ahead and around to determine your cost. Also, don’t forget to apply for Pharmacy Patient Assistance programs and non-profit organizations to help with your co-pays and deductibles. 

Revlimid's Pricing History

Revlimid has long been a poster child for pharmaceutical companies on how to make ridiculous amounts of money from one drug. Revlimid was the flagship money maker for Celgene and is an example of how quickly and steeply a drug price can change. In a report in 2018, National Public Radio interviewed a patient who was prescribed Revlimid and who saw the price of the drug rise from $8000 to $16,691/month from 2010 to 2016. The current price of Revlimid is $24,366 for a 28-day supply of a 2.5mg tablet. 

Congressional Probe and Pricing Strategies

On Sept 30, 2020, Eric Sagonowsky published an article regarding Revlimid's aggressive sales targets. His information was obtained through a Congressional probe.

The Congressional probe identified reasons that Celgene raised the price of Revlimid numerous times over the years to hit aggressive sales targets. A 2017 document outlines how “favorable net price” changes would help the company grow its multiple myeloma franchise from $4.8 billion in 2016 to $8 billion in 2020. After that presentation, the company repeatedly raised Revlimid’s price, sending it upward by 30% between January 2017 and January 2019, according to the report. In 2017 alone, the company raised Revlimid’s price by nearly 20% in a series of hikes. 

R&D Costs and Pricing Justifications

Most drug companies argue that the high prices constitute a return on the research and development cost of bringing a drug to market. However, for Revlimid, this wasn’t the case. According to the probe, Celgene relied heavily on taxpayer-funded academic research to develop Revlimid. Consequently, its pricing decisions appear to have been unrelated to past or future investment in research and development. Alles, former CEO of Celgene, said they spent $800 million and 14 years developing Revlimid in a completely independent development program. He also said that Celgene paid “no negotiated discounts” to Medicare Part D. And on the commercial markets, no discounts were larger than 5%. 

The probe also found the company’s executive payment system incentivizes price hikes and that the company targeted the U.S. for high prices because the federal government is prohibited from negotiating prices. Furthermore, Celgene restricted competition by using the U.S. patent system to its advantage by “abusing” a government drug safety program. It’s estimated that the company's “anti-competitive tactics” are believed to cost the U.S. healthcare system more than $45 billion through 2025.

Need for Reform and Future Outlook

After reviewing this information, it is clear that governmental negotiations on drug pricing or other solutions are needed. The bottom line is that patients who rely on these drugs to live are quite often already financially burdened. The tactics that were used by Celgene are a testament to our need to advocate for reforms.

The generics that are now being made available in the U.S. and Europe are a long time in the way and are a very welcomed addition in the fight against multiple myeloma.

Bristol Myers Squibb acquired Celgene in April 2019.

At HealthTree Foundation, we recognize the power of personal connections for people with cancer and their loved ones. We’ve developed programs and tools designed to help you find people who understand what you’re going through so you can support and learn from one another. If you are struggling to pay for the cost of myeloma treatment, consider talking with a Myeloma Coach with experience in financial resources.

If you would like 1:1 support with financial resources, you can meet with a Financial Coach to learn more about what's available to you and your loved ones. 

• If you have multiple myeloma, sign up for a free profile at HealthTree Myeloma Coach. Browse for your own coach and filter for "Health Insurance/Financial Resources"
• If you have any other type of blood cancer, email our Financial Program Manager, Diahanna Vallentine, to get started. 

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