Orcenia TV Commercials | Arthritis Information

 

Since I rarely watch commercial tv, last night I finally caught an advertisement for Orcenia.  I frankly was shocked on two fronts: 1) the long list of disclaimers on side effects like "certain cancers"; and 2) the models not having arthritic hands for closeups on buttoning up a coat or gripping a steering wheel.  At least they could have put people who really have RA and are doing well on it in the commercials.  What are they afraid of, the truth?  Our arthritic hands?

I just hate the "O yes I can" statement.

 

I've wondered about the ads also.  Enbrel, Humira, and Orencia all get alot of airtime.  Glad to know at least I have a trendy disease.

Everyone wants in on the biologics because they are a huge money maker.  I wish I could remember how much my rheumie told me that Enbrel and Humira brought in last year. 

1 gram of Orencia (a full monthly dose for someone over 220 lbs) is about ,000 without insurance.  All the biologics run a lot of commercials, and I believe it because they are so expensive.  Not only does all the advertising bother me from a financial standpoint, and as you say a "reality standpoint", but as someone for whom it isn't working very well, it's also rubbing salt in my wound.

Edited to add, the cost I'm quoting is for the medicine alone, not including the actual administration of the IV drug.  My home infusion service would be an additional 0 without insurance, and if I had it done at the hospital, more like 0.InnerGlow2008-11-26 18:54:42I agree with you - if my hands, knees, hips, etc., worked as well as those of the folks in the Orencia commercial, I wouldn't need to use it!!  I've been receiving Orencia infusions for 10 months now, and thankfully, it has been very beneficial for me so far.  Once I asked my IV nurse how much each infusion cost, he replied, ",275!!!!!"  Can you imagine?  My insurance however, only pays the infusion company ,200, and they accept that as payment in full? Huh?  Must they OVERcharge in order to get what they really want - the ,200??  I'm thankful I have no out of pocket expense with this, but it certainly is confusing.........can anyone shed any more light on this situation?

Happy Turkey Day!!!
Dogmom

RA is huge $ potential...and they pharm companies hope that these meds translate into other uses

I too dislike the unrealistic commercials for all of the RA drugs.  Everyone is skinny, hands are in good shape, not shuffling, etc., etc.  I agree about the realities..but reality isn't what sells. how ironic.. I just saw one for  www.twofutures.com [QUOTE=rocckyd]

I just hate the "O yes I can" statement.

 

[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=justsaynoemore]Since I rarely watch commercial tv, last night I finally caught an advertisement for Orcenia.  [/QUOTE]

I didn't miss the play on Obama's Yes We Can in this commercial.  At least his infomercial showed a real RA patient with obvious RA.  I am just surprised at the focus on RA, with its "rareness" of 2% penetration of the population.  Perhaps they know how dumbed-down we are and are hoping we think its osteoarthritis.  I wonder how many OA patients are going to their rheumatologists and asking for Orcenia. 

The line in the commercial that makes me want to throw a shoe through the screen is... Since I am pretty much housebound cause of my jaw fun yesterday, I have been watching alot of TV.  I have seen the Orencia commercial 7 times since yesterday.  You know your life is sad when you are counting tv ads... rocckyd2008-11-27 13:44:16 the orencia commercial with the yes I can slogan has been running for well over a year in some form or another... I think the "yes I can" is playing on the similarity in sound to orencia not to the Obama slogan. I remember when I was suffering during onset with no relief people who saw the ad would ask me why they didn't just give me that Orencia stuff? I knew that it was  a strong drug reserved for people who did not have success with the drugs I was just starting. Then when I came here and found people who did not even get relief from the OH YES I CAN! drug- I was very discouraged and worried. Here's a realy great segment on how marketing is compromising medicie. It's about 20 minutes long and gets really interesting about half way through:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05162008/watch2.html[QUOTE=inflamedOnline]It is a bit over the top..... A little hokey[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=buckeye]the orencia commercial with the yes I can slogan has been running for well over a year in some form or another... I think the "yes I can" is playing on the similarity in sound to orencia not to the Obama slogan. [/QUOTE] I've seen that Moyers segment before GoGo - thanks for reposting that. i know someone who works for Accredo/Medco and they are making a killing off our illness plus even while everyone else is losing money they are making even more....   makes me want to vomit.     wonderwoman2008-11-29 11:15:57It's illegal for drug companies to advertise prescription only drugs on tv in Australia. I think that's a good thing, it stops dangerous drugs from becoming consumer-driven products, and doctors aren't under added pressure to prescribe what their patient has been conned into thinking will answer thier prayers.

There is a loophole though, by making it newsworthy. "Breakthrough in treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Could this be a cure." Which of course they later tell you it isn't. But everyone you see over the following week have only heard BREAKTHROUGH and CURE. Give me strength.
Amen to that!

Orencia gave me about 30% relief before fizzling out altogether. the rd at that time said it was causing me more harm than good and then took me off of it with nothing to place me on. he was looking into the rituxan at that time to place me on. I had been on all of the other biologics every single one. I don't sing their praises.  I take them because they tell me there isn't anything else for me.  they charge 00 for the orencia. they were having a hard time getting the insurance to pay the first dose but the other doses were paid. I still had a huge co-pay. but I roll my eyes at those commercials.  however, I will say most of the people in the infusion room with me have nice hands. no deformities. i wish I could say the same for my hands but it doesn't seem to cripple everybody's hands. no rhyme or reason to this monster of a disease.

Shelly, if you have private/commerical insurance, Bristol Myers Squibb has a program where they reimburse you for the co-pays.  Contact them at the 800 number and ask for the Commence Orencia program.  It doesn't matter that you already started, but you should find out if you qualify.  Made a huge difference for me.at my doctor's alot of the patients have had surgery to replace all the little bones in their hands and fingers.   it is amazing!   their hands look and work great!    i would be afraid though because i do not heal very well.LOL! That was too funny because that is exactly how I shop.  I can't stop laughing.:)

Hi Innerglow,

I should have met you last year.  I am no longer on the orencia.  I am on the rituxan now. the docs took me off of it. however, I did let the new doc know I am having a hard time with my co-pays and he gave me some paperwork to fill out to get help with that.

thanks for information. take care.

reply 2 wonderwoman,

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