Zo houdt Big Pharma je voor de gek | VPRO Tegenlicht

Summary

The video script delves into the high usage of medications in the Netherlands and the impact of expensive pharmaceuticals on patients. Pharmacist Paul Lebbink gained fame for creating costly drugs at a fraction of the price, challenging the industry's pricing. The script also addresses the industry's focus on rare diseases and the high costs of medications, leading to accessibility issues. It features personal stories, including that of a patient suffering from alveolar soft part sarcoma, and the efforts of Dr. Casper van Eijck, who seeks to understand the efficacy of chemotherapy. The narrative critiques the pharmaceutical industry's practices and the need for more personalized medicine approaches.

Takeaways

• 💊 The Netherlands uses a significant amount of medication, with the volume of deliveries being alarmingly high.
• 🏥 Pharmacist Paul Lebbink gained national recognition for independently producing extremely expensive medications at a fraction of the cost, much to the industry's chagrin.
• 🔬 The pharmaceutical industry is focusing on developing drugs for less common diseases, which results in high prices that may be unaffordable for patients.
• 🤔 The affordability of medication is a concern, as patients unable to pay for expensive drugs do not benefit from them, prompting pharmacies to consider alternative production methods.
• 🕰 Historically, pharmacists had to make everything themselves, but since the 1930s to 1950s, the industry has taken over, reducing the role of pharmacists in production.
• 🌿 The script mentions a self-produced morphine ointment for pain relief, which is not commercially available and has anecdotal effectiveness but lacks scientific evidence.
• 📖 Pharmacist Lebbink faced legal action from Orfin Europe for making a drug that they had marketed, highlighting the tension between individual production and industry patents.
• 🏛️ The court ruled in favor of pharmacists, stating they can produce medicines for their patients even if a patent exists, as long as it's prescribed generically and does not infringe on the company's name.
• 💉 Expensive medications like ypilulimob and nivolumob, used in combination for infusions, can cost tens of thousands of euros, highlighting the high costs of certain treatments.
• 🤑 The high costs of medications are tied to significant capital investment, and the industry's marketing strategies are criticized for prioritizing profits over patient outcomes.
• 📊 Researcher Casper Van Eijck, who has treated patients worldwide, including Steve Jobs, is concerned about the inefficiency of chemotherapy drugs, which may not work for a large portion of patients, and the industry's lack of interest in more targeted treatments.

Q & A

What is the main concern expressed by the speaker about the use of medication in the Netherlands?

The speaker is alarmed by the large amount of medication being used in the Netherlands, as evidenced by the number of trucks delivering medicines, and the volume of orders made in a single day.

Who is Paul Lebbink and what is his significance in the script?

Paul Lebbink is a pharmacist who gained national recognition for independently producing extremely expensive medications at a fraction of the cost, much to the pharmaceutical industry's dismay.

What is the pharmaceutical industry's recent focus according to the script?

The pharmaceutical industry has been focusing on developing medication for less frequently occurring diseases, which results in the production of very expensive drugs.

Why is it a concern if a medication is too expensive for a patient to afford?

If a medication is too expensive and a patient cannot afford it, they will not be able to access the treatment they need, which may have serious health implications.

What is the historical context of pharmacists making their own medicines?

Until the early last century, pharmacists had to make all their own medicines. It was only between the 1930s and 1950s that the industry started to establish production processes for making tablets and powders on a larger scale.

What is the significance of the morfinezalf mentioned in the script?

The morfinezalf is a self-made product by a pharmacist, developed in response to a doctor's request to help manage pain in a patient with many penetrating wounds. It is not available from the industry and its effectiveness is not scientifically proven.

Why did Paul Lebbink end up in court?

Paul Lebbink was taken to court by the company Orfin Europe because he was making a medicine that they had marketed, without using their product. The court case revolved around the price difference between the two versions of the medicine.

What was the court's decision regarding pharmacists making their own medicines?

The court ruled in favor of Paul Lebbink, stating that a pharmacist is allowed to make their own medicines for their patients, even if there is a patent on the medicine, as long as it is prescribed generically and does not infringe on the company's name.

What are the costs associated with the medication ypilulimob as mentioned in the script?

Ypilulimob is an expensive medication that costs approximately 17,000 euros per infusion. It is often administered alongside another medication, nivolumob, which also costs several thousand euros, resulting in a combined cost of around 25,000 euros per infusion day.

What is the role of Peter Gotzsche in the script?

Peter Gotzsche is a Danish doctor who worked for the pharmaceutical company Astra for ten years, primarily in marketing and research. He became a whistleblower and is known for his critical studies of the pharmaceutical system.

What is the significance of Casper Van Eijck's research in the script?

Casper Van Eijck is a researcher who has treated patients worldwide, including Steve Jobs. His research aims to understand why chemotherapy works for some patients but not for others, which is a question the pharmaceutical industry is not interested in funding.

What is the impact of the pharmaceutical industry's approach on patients with alvleesklierkanker (pancreatic cancer)?

The current system sells drugs that do not work for 70-80% of the patients, which is a significant issue for aggressive forms of cancer like alvleesklierkanker. This results in a large group of patients receiving chemotherapy that may be ineffective for them.