Rapamycin etc., Purchase Price Comparison Spreadsheet, and Issues Discussion

Large language models (aka AI, like ChatGPT and Bard) use a trained transformer which is very different from a structured query mechanism. Probabilistic responses at such a large scale are something I have trouble conceptualizing.

@RapAdmin please consider pinning this post. Can you pin it in the ‘Buy Rapamycin’ topic?

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Yes - its already done…

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4 posts were merged into an existing topic: Chat GPT and AI in Healthcare Thread

I bought 500 tablets of 2mg Sirolimus from India for $600 AUD including the shipping. It got stopped by border force and I got a letter from TGA to explain. I got a letter from my doctor and they released it for me.

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Just to be clear - this happened in Australia, is that correct?

Yes the customs is in Australia. If my local GP will prescribe them for me it will only cost $29 AUD for 100x 2mg tablets, but 4x GPs later they all flat out refuse citing their insurer will not let them and I’m not a renal transplant patient.

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Please add Varun Medicals, Nagpur. (Pravin Lahoti +91 8048617086)

Just received my third shipment from him into UK. All successful and no problem (latest shipment rather larger than I’ve done before so did attract the attention of customs for payment of VAT (payable on any shipment worth more than £135) but that’s not much more than paying two shipping charges to avoid it). Although Rx medicines clearly stated on the customs declaration, no requirement to provide a prescription.

20 days from payment to receipt.

Rapacan 1mg $0.7 per tablet
Acarbose 50mg (Glucobay) $0.2 per tablet
Bempedoic Acid 180mg (Bempetol) $0.3 per tablet
Telmisartan (Telmiheal 40) $1 per 15 tablets.
Shipping $45

He wants to be paid in INR even though he quotes in USD. He supplied an invoice number and Revolute payments work no problem.

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Bempetol’s manufacturer is “Signature”: is it a good one? (never heard of it)
Same question for Telmaheal by Healing Pharma. I often see products from this company.

$45 shipping fees to the UK is extremely expensive. I paid $15 to $30 depending on the provider and quantity ordered.

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First time I’ve ordered the bempedoic acid and Telmisartan so I’ll have to let you know in the future if they are doing what they are supposed to do.
Obviously will know on the bp much earlier than the lipids.

Having the desired effect is not enough. We want to make sure that 1/ it’s the right product (telmisartan and not another antihypertensive), 2/ the dose is right (that you have 40 mg of the desired active product and not 30 or 50) and 3/ there are no impurities or other things.

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Telmisartan (generic) 30x 40mg tablets
Using GoodRX pay out of pocket using discount card/code in North New Jersey area

Yes, you would require a prescription.

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If someone is buying from India, I would suggest targeting medications from only the largest of the Pharma companies (i.e. top 15 or so companies). There are many smaller pharma companies, that don’t adhere to international quality standards it seems.

Here is a list I found that may be helpful in this quest (Source here)

In this article, we will explore the Top 20 Pharmaceutical Companies in India and their contributions to the industry.

COMPANY NAME FOUNDING YEAR FOUNDER HEADQUARTERS VALUATION REVENUE 2022 (CONSOLIDATED) REVENUE (STANDALONE) ACQUISITIONS IPO STATUS
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries 1983 Dilip Shanghvi Goregaon, Mumbai $26.2 Billion $4.95 Billion $2.07 Billion 12 Public
Divi’s Laboratories 1990 Murali Divi Hyderabad $12.6 Billion $1.13 Billion $1.1 Billion 0 Public
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories 1984 Dr. Kallam Anji Reddy Hyderabad $9.1 Billion $2.7 Billion $1.8 Billion 6 Public
Cipla Limited 1935 Khwaja Abdul Hamied Mumbai $9.8 Billion $2.7 Billion $1.7 Billion 6 Public
Emcure Pharmaceuticals 1983 Satish Ramanlal Mehta Pune $0.63 Billion $762.8 Million - 4 Registered
Biocon Limited 1978 Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Bengaluru $4.9 BIllion $1.05 Billion $241 Million 1 Public
Torrent Pharma 1959 U. N. Mehta Ahmedabad $6.2 Billion $1.09 Billion $869.9 Million 5 Public
Lupin Limited 1968 Desh Bandhu Gupta Mumbai $3.6 Billion $2.07 Billion $1.4 Billion 9 Public
Zydus Lifesciences Limited (formerly Cadila Healthcare) 1952 Ramanbhai Patel Ahmedabad $4.4 Billion $1.9 Billion $1.02 Billion 4 Public
Aurobindo Pharma Limited 1986 P. V. Ramaprasad Reddy and K. Nityananda Reddy Hyderabad $4.04 Billion $2.9 Billion $1.4 Billion 7 Public
Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited 1976 Hasmukh Chudgar Ahmedabad $4.3 Billion $2.2 Billion - 2 Private
Glenmark Pharma Limited 1977 Gracias Saldanha Mumbai $1.3 Billion $1.5 Billion $1.09 Billion 4 Public
Mankind Pharma Limited 1995 R. C. Juneja and Rajeev Juneja New Delhi $1 Billion - 1 Private
Piramal Enterprises Limited 1984 Ajay Piramal Mumbai $5.5 Billion $1.8 Billion $337.3 Million 7 Public
Laurus Labs Ltd. 2005 Dr. Satyanarayana Chava Hyderabad $3.4 Billion $619.8 Million $591.1 Million 1 Public
Abbott India Ltd. 1944 Dr Wallace Calvin Abbott Mumbai $5.3 Billion - $625.7 Million 1 Public
Alkem Laboratories 1973 Samprada Singh Mumbai $4.7 Billion $1.3 Billion $1.1 Billion 3 Public
Alembic Pharmaceuticals 1907 Prof. T. K. Gajjar, Prof. A. S. Kotibhasker, B. D. Amin Vadodara $1.7 Billion $670.8 Million $632 Million 2 Public
Innovexia Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. 2011 Sandeep Khajuria Chandigarh - $14.3 Million - - Private
Biophar Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd. 2010 Gulshan Rawat Chandigarh - - - - Private

Top 20 Pharmaceutical Companies of India

  1. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
  2. Divi’s Laboratories
  3. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
  4. Cipla Limited
  5. Emcure Pharmaceuticals
  6. Biocon Limited
  7. Torrent Pharma
  8. Lupin Limited
  9. Zydus Lifesciences Limited (formerly Cadila Healthcare)
  10. Aurobindo Pharma Limited
  11. Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited
  12. Glenmark Pharma Limited
  13. Innovexia Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
  14. Biophar Lifesciences Pvt.Ltd.
  15. Mankind Pharma Limited
  16. Piramal Enterprises Limited
  17. Laurus Labs Ltd.
  18. Abbott India Ltd.
  19. Alkem Laboratories
  20. Alembic Pharmaceuticals
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In this list I would only buy from companies that also sell in Europe and the US. Higher standards.

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Yes - that is probably a good idea, but it takes a little more research to figure out those companies that do sell to Western Europe and USA. I’d guess that its these from the top of my head, but if anyone knows better, please post:

  1. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
  2. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
  3. Cipla Limited
  4. Biocon Limited
  5. Zydus Lifesciences Limited (formerly Cadila Healthcare)
  6. Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited
  7. Glenmark Pharma Limited
  8. Abbott India Ltd.
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Also - some general information to help people understand the Pharma business and how it impacts us:

An example of the pricing differentials around the world for one, probably representative, drug (the Epipen):

What the global pharmaceutical industry looks like from a market capitalization perspective:

Note: I don’t think market capitalization is a very good measure of much (for consumers) regarding Pharma companies. Much better would be unit sales and quality history, but that data is much harder to find or obtain.

Source: https://www.visualcapitalist.com

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Epipens cost as little as $56/pen in the US, without insurance:

Epipens are twice as expensive in Canada:


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Lupin is also massive in the US: Lupin Limited - Wikipedia

And Aurobindo has apparently a strong presence in the US and Europe: https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/top-10-generic-drugmakers-2021-revenue

Also, with the exception of Intas, which is private, all the above companies are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. So they have the constant scrutiny of the markets.

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For any Aussies, I just received 250 x 1mg Biocon Rapacan from Kunal at https://www.safeoverseas.in/
for US$215 including delivery. Fast postage, great communication and tracking updates and made it straight through customs.
Highly recommend and much cheaper than All Day Chemist where I purchased prior.

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FWIW

Received a marketing email today 04/05/2024

“50 x 1mg Film Coated Rapamycin (Sirolimus nanoparticles) Tablets”

RapaPro brand, manufacturer in India.

$70.00

I do not have any financial interest in this organization.

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