title: Recombinant therapeutics: from bench to bedside (if your health plan concurs).
abstract: A talented medical student at our institution was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). beta interferon was prescribed; however, her annual cap from student health insurance coverage for outpatient drug expenses is only Dollars 3000, a sum that would be exceeded within 3 months and leave her without coverage for symptomatic medications also required for her care. Unable to pay for the treatment from personal resources, she qualified to receive beta interferon without cost from a universal access program established by the manufacturer. Unfortunately, it was evident within a few months that she had a poor therapeutic response, so her physician prescribed natalizumab. Her health care plan requires that infusion therapy be given at the hospital's infusion center, yet for various reasons, the drug was not yet approved by the formulary. She remains unable to receive the drug.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: S Claiborne
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends*; D017277:Drug Approval; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics*; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000378:metabolism; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D000069442:Natalizumab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000069442:Natalizumab; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D016899:Interferon-beta