SometimesOthertimesAnytime
181790
2886
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https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/22/mark-cuban-launches-online-pharmacy-generic-drugs-affordable/
Jan 22, 2022 7:34 PM
SometimesOthertimesAnytime
181790
2886
50
https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/22/mark-cuban-launches-online-pharmacy-generic-drugs-affordable/
Branables
But think of the CVS's! What are they going to do with all that receipt paper?
Areliae
Good for him. Blah blah he's still making a profit. I don't give a fuck. It's a good thing.
thatunpleasantfeeling
Anyone else disgusted by seeing live saving drugs listed at 'retail prices'?
GrapeHero
We always put too much faith in rich people… but this is at least something that was actually done, not just said on Twitter.
AndersCalrissian
If he gets good enough volume he’ll still make money and he will get good volume
LtColThorin
It's just generics but that's still huge. If this is successful, it should cause a small price war. Might be the first step in affordable 1/
cbcd
he also has plans to domestically produce as well.
LtColThorin
Medication for everyone. If it takes off, it could harm sales of the regular drugs forcing them (hopefully) to lower their prices 2/
LtColThorin
Which may result in a lot less price gouging. That is something you Americans could really use
Siptro
hes my favorite Shark
RagingNorseman
Duh duh duh duhduh duh
ZnSaucier
Would it be “Mark the Shark doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo” or “Cuban Shark doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo”?
yeahIbreedtreelizards
This is great. I only wish we could get some new psych meds as generics. It sucks that insurance won't pay for new mental health meds.
iusedtoknowhowtodothis
Good on you, Americans. I hope the concept scales up to cover most of the commonly used drugs that currently bankrupt a lot of people.
latenightbreeze
I hope this concept bankrupts a lot of pharmaceutical companies. Because fuck them.
CabooseNomerson
Have to wait for the patents to be made public for that to happen. Thanks Disney.
Emubench
Disney extended copyright not patents.
iusedtodream
Cost: less than $47. Retail: $10,000. JFC.
CaptainKipup
Whoever is responsible for that mark up deserves fire
Targe0
No Fires too quick for that kind of action. Now Flesh eating bacteria, that likes to take its time.
LompHoofd
and then gouging the antibiotics price for that out of rev- .. wait
Thewayofthebear
If this is true he has pulled the most genius move ever ?
thevortexmaster
I'm not American but I hope this is true. You guys need this
JonWallace1985
I’ll bet politicians kill this quickly.
Jaeger6Ix
This is amazing, people who do things like this should be appreciated rather than that Rat that like to influence markets for personal gains
SpecialAgentCharlesCarmichael
Let it be true. Let him set the tone. Let others follow.
littlecoatfatguy
Hopefully he'll prompt more billionaires to try and buy our love.
SaltyEsq
Free overnight shipping via prime for a measly $50 per year or whatever bought my love
Affray
Amazon turns into a very bitter word when you read into their general doings even a little bit. Convenience at the cost of humanity.
SaltyEsq
I'm apathetic enough to be look past it (unpopular opinion, but no one is gonna change me)
Affray
Then I've got some unfortunate news.
SaltyEsq
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure apathy is different than sociopathy. I'm a lawyer not a shrink though
Antrazit
This is the way. Technically, this would happen naturally if free market competition was happening healthily, but because the Pharma
Antrazit
Industry is a mafia blocking new contenders from entering, they can all charge way too much without competition, and it takes a fuckin
Antrazit
Billionaire to try and enter that market
thatsbadmmkay
He is strongly against being taxed more for free healthcare.
eightyearplan
Would this have happened 15 years ago if he were being taxed more? I would argue yes.
Sonicschilidogs
Well yeah, it's a long haul play. The thing is, keep your eye on the ball, use this for now to save, but then still keep voting to change
dogwithahumanface
Both parties have killed efforts to create a single-payer system. There is currently no vote you can make for single-payer. Think bigger.
Targe0
Yes but one side does seem to want to keep making it worse. Got to keep voting so it doesn't back slide further.
mksu
Yeah, except most people suck at keeping their eye on the ball and are easily distracted by the introduction of a new, shinier ball.
Crimx42
Is this real
DeinnsBeans
I'm sure pharmaceutical/insurance lobbyists will take no action to stop this.
wizardOTC
It appears to be so. Check with their website, and your Dr. https://costplusdrugs.com/medications/
NotSteveWozniak
CafeNervosa
Morpheus: How do you define real?
qroniq14
Of all the rich elite people we will eat some day. I will regret having to eat him more than the others.
FloatingOnACloudOfTitties
Maybe he can be last on our list?
PenguinNamedWobbles
Now he just needs Leno and Ron Perlman as partners. Then they can call it "jaws of life"
matthiasfactor
This is what billionaires are supposed to do
Sonicschilidogs
Except nah, billionaires are meant to exist.
Nerfgunner
I see you are pro billionaire. Agree.
matthiasfactor
Well so long as they do, this is what they should do. We can argue the ethics of their existence later.
Hurro
Does this open up any legal ramifications or does he have licensed medical staff selling?
SgtMaddogg
He will require years worth of FDA paperwork and approval but this is real. My company works with his.
darthtator
Pharmacists
M1ssPlace
I hope they sell Albuterol. I don't know why it's not covered anymore.
kingofblueoranges
How is Albuterol not covered anymore!?
M1ssPlace
It's not covered with a regular medication copay. That's with blue cross/blue shield.
Aeav8r
What, you need help breathing? Quit being lazy.
Nicalanius
America!
M1ssPlace
Well, they do, but it's still way more than it should be. Dang.
darthtator
GoodRX has been killer for this. $28 at Walgreens
kittyanya
Found a coupon from them for inhalers to be $20 one month and the pharmacist let me have 3 for backups after I got done with the online doc.
M1ssPlace
I need the backups. It's not practical to have only one that you keep on your person at all times.
kittyanya
Tell me about it. I don't need to dig through my monster purse hunting for the inhaler. One on the desk is great.
darthtator
It makes zero sense that they won't fill more than one at a time. I need multiple so I don't have to carry the one around with me everywhere
darthtator
Not like we're getting high off these things.. we just want to breathe!
ItsActuallyDavidNow
I hate the cynic in me. I read this story about a billionaire doing something that seems good, and all I can think is, “Why?”
darthtator
Because he'll still make a ton of money.. and he can
furzinderdose
Next week: "Breaking news! Mark Cuban shot himself in the back 24 times and then drowned himself while sitting in his burning car"
mksu
He's not a charity. He doesn't want to be taxed more to fund universal healthcare, so he's distracting people from the need for it.
furzinderdose
Hopefully in an alternate universe, but the last years didn't get my hopes up for you americans. Let's hope hes start of the change you need
troyandabedpostoniiiiimgur
He'll just get shut down.
Targe0
"He feel from a 30th floor window and landed on 36 bullets. Causes of death was deemed natural from old age."
horseman05
Damn,even with my insurance this saves me over $100 per month! He is now my favorite!
fr1080f
Damn I'm so happy to live in Canada. My bi polar meds cost $30 dollars a month without insurance. Costco ftw.
SarcasticComment
Our system is fucking broke. I've spent $196 over 3 doctor visits with great insurance.
leechdemon
It's your own fault for getting sick. /s
horseman05
I agree,with Top Tier insurance my Meds. still cost me $264 per month.This will shave over a $100 per month off! System is Broken!
coothlesscthulhu
Yup I have "great" insurance but cancer cost me over $10k out of pocket in just a few months. Totally wiped out my savings.
troyandabedpostoniiiiimgur
Don't get used to it. I can't see this being around for long once it starts generating real publicity
Arbitrarynamehere
Word of advice, do not ever under any circumstances have a favorite billionaire. They are not your friends.
Arbitrarynamehere
They're also the reason why you're never going to get single payer healthcare since this form still makes them more money.
SomeDetroitGuy
The reason we won't get any sort of government run healthcare is American voters are idiots and don't want it.
Arbitrarynamehere
Well support for it is quite high actually but there's an impenetrable lobbyist wall to break through
ImgeneralBennet
Please please please get insulin on there
IThinkRadiolariaAreCool
https://imgur.com/account/favorites/4mbxl19
ChaosSound
Apperently they are working on a plant in dallas for injectables.
coronakilla
Please please please!!!
wizardOTC
I can’t afford to quite my job because the insurance covers insulin really well. I pay $600/ moth but I only pay $40/3 months of insulin.
Imalwaysready
Yep. I am a healthcare hostage to my job because my family member has T1D. It's a boat I can't rock, so I stay at a job where I'm unhappy.
wizardOTC
Sorry :( maybe in the next 10-15 years we will have universal healthcare
Targe0
Still too much but better then I have seen others have to pay.
wizardOTC
Oh yeah. W/o job, it would cost me $500/month. It’s pretty insane.
Targe0
See I thankfully don't have to deal with it. But as I am aware it's less then $10 here in Australia. Not sure on current price.
wizardOTC
Yeah American healthcare is a shitshow. If I wasn’t a T1D I would have a house almost 1/2 paid off. I’m 33 years old :( had T1D almost 30yrs
i2ocker89
What is insulin for?
FjordFiskursson
Diabetes.
TheCompilerOfTales
Diabetes, I believe.
TK421isAFK
Usually for Type 1 Diabetes - the genetic/autoimmune kind, not Type 2, which is usually caused by poor diet.
nicoleoftheeast
This is dead wrong. A very large portion of type 2 diabetics require insulin
search4bigfoot
Type 2 needs it too once the disease progresses
Targe0
That's usually because the amount of damage you have done basically causes Type one like issues at that stage.
EatYourSoylentGreenAndShutUp
Type 2 isn't always caused by poor diet. It can also partially be inherited.
TK421isAFK
It's typically triggered by a diet high in sugars in a person that's predisposed to it. Therefore, the sugars trigger it - thus, cause it.
ropetopus
Type 2 isn't caused by poor diet, that's a myth. Poor diet can accelerate it and it can often be managed by a strict diet, though.
TK421isAFK
Right - the person is genetically predisposed to it, and a diet high in sugars triggers it. Without the trigger, it's unlikely to manifest.
tjluv
This seems too good to be true
dergage
Modern day Al Capone.
darkhalfbreed
Probably taking advantage of a broke system knowing to unbreak it big pharma has to take a dive. It's billionaire chicken
kingkongkeom
Looks almost like healthcare in on of the other top 32 biggest economies that somehow figured out universal healthcare...
pallyman
Somehow? It's easy, dont privatise treatment/hospitals/medication.
MisterDonutVampire
Maybe he is just buying drugs from Australia and selling them +$10 for profit for themselves... instead of 10 thousand *shrugs*
maplepancakes
Actually it looks like he's investing in manufacturing plants so they can make the generics they offer. That saves a ton of cost.
x1xruex1x
If it helps with my insulin and isn't a scam or front for other bullcrap, then I'm all for it
KitchenClean
Honestly, I thought this was the Onion.
anotherIngloriousHandle
hopefully he got the credibility challenges squared away — generic drugs are not bad drugs but the cartel will cry
TheUneasyBoosh
every once in a while a millionaire thinks "I don't want to be eaten by the poor" and does the right thing
AtmaDarkwolf
Hey if hes really doing it for 'good sake to be good' then all power to him. It is nice to hear of a 'decent human being' who also happens
AtmaDarkwolf
to be billionaire rich. Finally (in this topic) one can say there is at least ONE exception to the rule.
designatedskater
I'll be that guy: check out pitchfork economics podcast, the guy who does that is filthy rich and trying to fight the good fight
xtraa
Cuban health care – they say it's good
PeeterGrant
Maybe the non generic drug prices will skyrocket to compensate?
the3truth4
He’s still making 15%, he’s banking on benefiting from everyone else’s greed
wormfood
He has enough money that he doesn't have to be afraid of breaking ranks with the colluders. This is what they call "market disruption". 1/2
wormfood
If the market were working like it's supposed to, it would've happened years ago. But congress is in business's pocket. 2/2
NickRivieraMD
initial offer boosts sales, then they can jack up prices later.
AaronElsey
I have an account with them and it's legit trust me. My normal medication is 780 bucks a month now it's 52 bucks
blooocean
damn 15 times less than usual price, that must give you a giant relief
JoeyJoJoJrShabbadoo
That's so fucked up. But good to hear you saving so much.
YesYouJustLostTheGameAgain
It’s because it was supposed to be like this from the get go. Please enjoy it while it lasts:(
drizztx
I just checked, and my thyroid medication would go from $37 to $6.60 for a 90 day supply.
Randazzo
Look into Civica RX for something similar, done by non-profit hospitals. They basically decided to start making their own drugs.
GlenL
Make an online pharmacy that breaks even to farm good will and do whatever the fuck you want elsewhere.
Pally01
Mark Cuban is the 'good' Billionaire that others claim to be. He also talks about how taxes and min wage need to be raised.
gibberishDude
You can’t be one by definition.
Pally01
Peer-comparison: he's better than the rest. But google him and see what he's said then see what you think
MostDefinitelyNotACommentBot
Incorrect my dude. The definition of "billionaire" is that you own an amount of wealth and if this power is used against a corrupt system...
InfocalypseRising
Right? Like I want to say "finally somebody solving this problem" but I'm looking for the catch
SadOssan
Probably signing away your data for them to do anonymized analysis for future marketing. But we all do that elsewhere anyways.
[deleted]
[deleted]
SadOssan
It's every businsses's dream: all the competitors are selling at 10-20x your price.
urbanfire
A billionaire doing something good for humanity? I'm scared
Narfwak
Mark Cuban understand that if consumers are bled completely dry it'll kill the economy in the long term
Cyrakhis
He's a particularly crazy wealthy person. Like.. the good kind of crazy lol
VaultGirl69
It's probably just PR. Or doing something to piss off another billionaire. It's dangerous to let a few people control something this importa
YoSamiteSam
Before Epsteins black book drops
Dragonfury5
I feel like we're all forgetting the insider trading he was accused/ involved in a while back. Pretty sure it was him
ElChicoGrande
He’s still making a profit so there’s that.
JohnTheFrost
Which he should, like any company that wants to stay in business. Unless you don’t want affordable drugs and just want him to fail.
ElChicoGrande
That’s not the point I was making. This is another form of trickle down. You idolize a “magnanimous “ deed as a solution. It’s not.
LiberalViking
Yes, an ethical profit while saving lives. Don't shame success. Shame greed.
ElChicoGrande
I’m not shaming just pointing out the lack of altruism while you all look at it like a solution.
SquirtleSquad420
The plus 15% goes to him.
kerrigan778
No shit?
djmcsquared
Well it's more for operation costs. I mean I'm all for cheap drug costs but things cost money too
captaingforce
I'm ok with someone making money, they deserve to be compensated for running a business, I'm just glad it's not unreasonable for once
bBoldBrian
Is he the Batman?
Treblaine
Just be glad he's not dressed up like a bat beating up clowns. Because APPARENTLY you can't do that.
iDrinkDrano
He's undercutting the competition and still making profit. It's a good thing but he's not doing it as a loss
JohnTheFrost
He doesn’t have to. The world can be a fair and affordable place where companies are allowed to make money.
BobbyVegana
That's fine, don't want to be a failed attempt of a great idea.
Dixinmass
Hes at a point with his wealth where he can undercut a huge market and make profit while helping people. Its not as diabolical as you think.
SemiLucidUser
He put microchips in every pill I heard too. /S
insomniac24x7
He is going for volume. Relax he will make a boatload of money
Forobviousreasons
Im fine with him making money hand over fist like this. Not by gouging everyone for every penny in their pockets.
Deathwing777
Of course, but it also benefits the working class person. This is better than "charities" other rich people setup.
jmartkdr
Worst case is this becomes the Amazon of pharmacies, killing all competitors especially locally owned. And I’m not sure that’s bad here
insomniac24x7
Do you know how huge and entrenched CVS System is? They own a health insurance company
eddiekilgore
If it helps poor people get their meds, I'm fine with him making a boatload of money. I don't hate success, I hate greed.
insomniac24x7
Yep, Walmart has $4 prescriptions too. And I was responding the “billionaires doing something good” comment
janelPositivityHero
This was a fantastic comment!
MyRespectableAlterEgo
He’s gonna make a shitload of money through sheer volume, but this’ll save lives and spare consumers: a 15% markup isnt disgustingly greedy.
unluckyandbored
A 15% markup is perfectly reasonable.
MyRespectableAlterEgo
I mean if medications gotta be for-profit, this is the much lesser evil - no charge at all should still be the endgame.
wishboned
Check out the site. Employees/etc have to be paid as well, so the mark up makes sense. Be disgusted when you see the standard retail cost.
AtomicChipmunk
Don't worry it's only one doing one thing. Let's just hope it doesn't snowball in true helpfulness
OrganoMetallic2016
Mark Cuban is fairly self aware.
enferno8
That would be disastrous for the other billionaires.
fartalert
And the rest of the world. Nobody likes change.
AtomicChipmunk
Or not effect them in the least. If you have 200 bill, spend 1/2... still rich as fuck and probably making money off the 100 spent
AtomicChipmunk
If they start doing it then they have to keep doing it. Minimum wage won't go back down if you get what I mean.
comacomacomacomachameleon
why? He's making money. You're still paying the middleman, just less than the competition.
timetimetimeago
What have you done today trying to help other people?
BayazTheBenevolent
And that's how you build wide instead of tall. This is good business, just not very risky which is what Bils usually go for.
Imnothrilled
Why? Because we are so used to being fucked over.
topphawg
15% across the board is still decent markup/profit
quadraspaz1
Yeah these are generic drugs that are cheap in the rest of the world. He hasn't had to pay for research and development or clinical trials
LuminoZero
Compared to 400%, it's fucking SOCIALISM
StoppedLurkingtoDownvote
It's worse. The example is over 20,000% markup (assuming $47 is 15% markup).
yallmfsneedjesus
You guys act like hes jaut making 15%. Dont you understand you have to pay employees? Pharmacists, IT, web hosting, customer service reps..
toffeebum
Perhaps hes including those “costs” in hi “at cost” statement
skyconb
"Then we add on the actual cost, $3.00, that our pharmacy partners charge us to prepare and provide your prescription to you."
skyconb
https://costplusdrugs.com/mission/
RhamnusiaThePaladin
I looked at the list of meds they have. No controlled substances (ex: opioids). All common medications.
NutellaElephant
Concerta?
LupusLilium
Synthroid but no antithyroid meds. I find mildly weird, but I guess in theory the up meds would be far more common than the down meds.
Thatsdoctorconsuelatoyou
No insulin either
RatFromADifferentSewer
No Concerta either. Guess it's back to the VA, ducks sake
ButteredNoodleDriver
Well it is a controlled substance... The highest level of controlled, I believe. Alongside opioids and so on
TheRockDude
technically second highest; highest level if you're only looking at drugs you can legally dispense at a pharmacy. schedule II vs -
Nautik
No Adderal or Ritalin either. Bummer. My guess is that those meds being highly controlled makes it too difficult for them to dispense.
RhamnusiaThePaladin
Amphetamines are Schedule II controlled substances. Requires more oversight from seller. like verifying the prescription is from a dr.
JsinLegacy
I thought the VA was low. Granted I don't have a co pay with them so I'm not 100% sure.
RatFromADifferentSewer
The VA is low but they don't cover all medications, and getting them to do anything is like pulling your own terth
The8obman
I’m betting big pharma is gonna sue the shit out of him, but he’s got deep pockets to get good lawyers so who knows how it’ll shake out
sturmhauke
Cuban is worth $4.5b. That's an inconceivable amount to us peons, but for instance Pfizer is worth $304b. And that's just one pharma corp.
MichaeIScott
Nah there’s multiple online pharmacies/PBMs doing this right now. He’s just getting the buzz.
drewbixcube127
I don't think big pharma will care. It says he's just setting the price at 15% over cost. They are still getting the same cut. Hell if 1/?
drewbixcube127
He sells more with lower prices they might just like him more than the normal pharmacy. It's CVS, Walgreens, ect that will hate him.
puffcorn237
Yea he's just working with true pill and setting prices
MADchemEE
Big Pharma probably doesn't care (that much). He's only seeking generics: drugs for which the patent has ceased. "Medium Pharma" (mfrs) …
MADchemEE
…and drug distributors might care, as well as pharmacies (chain, etc). They purchase generics, likely at a similar cost to him, each adding…
MADchemEE
…their own markup. There's nothing "special" about brand name drugs. They have to be manufactured in tightly regulated environments with …
MADchemEE
…very highly regulated QC/QA. Any "drug" is simply a chemical compound, contained it a particular format/formulation. The chemical compound…
EvilAbedsBoneSaw
No. Big pharma will use legislation to stop him. That's the reason why they bought those politicians in the first place.
Glitchoff
How so?
matti55
Yeah you're right thats the easiest way to go. America is so morally corrupt when I comes to health care.
iDontBelieveInIsms
*everything
EvilAbedsBoneSaw
Don't get it twisted: Most of America is held hostage by the morally corrupt & they're fond of pitting us against each other.
matti55
It's the politicans I blame.
ThankYouForYourTime
It’s good to read someone saying this. It’s unbelievably frustrating to be an American after you reach this conclusion.
RealRaceRiotsAreAboutGettingBlueshelledInMarioKart
Here's the rub. Medicaid and VA patients mainly get scripts by mail anymore. That's a HUGE red demo. It'll be hard to shut down.
EvilAbedsBoneSaw
"mainly get scripts by mail anymore"? I'm having trouble understanding your point from what I'm assuming is a typo. Help me out?
RealRaceRiotsAreAboutGettingBlueshelledInMarioKart
They receive their prescription by mail. Legislation to end pharmacies wouldn't work, so they'd have to go after mailing drugs, >
aethryll
It looks like to say they mostly get rx via mail (through internet or other sevice.) As a result, it would be difficult to shut this down
EvilAbedsBoneSaw
¹Big Pharma (BP) is not pharmacies/pharmacists it's the manufacturers. Manufacturers don't care about delivery as much as getting paid. *If*
EvilAbedsBoneSaw
²Cuban could pull it off, he'd likely be a significant proportion of drug sales & would have leverage in further demanding price cuts. The
FNtraffic
He is still making 15% over cost and will pretty much corner the market with those prices
yallmfsneedjesus
Do you not understand he has to pay employees, warwhouses, shipping, web hosting, etc. Like, do you get that at all?
barnsandnobel
Wait for real? Thats wack
FNtraffic
Yeah, my MBA covered stuff like that. Hard to do a full breakdown of his business plan in an Imgur comment
RoscoePSoultrain
15% will barely cover overheads - don't forget this operation will need paid staff, warehouses, logistics, etc. Running a business is $$$
yallmfsneedjesus
Yea these dumb shits on imgur out themselves as teens. No clue how the world works.
barnsandnobel
i just learned with that last comment that running a business costs money, and im almost 30.
CabooseNomerson
“At cost” means all of those are likely already accounted for. The 15% might be straight profit or investment money.
skyconb
I assumed "at cost" would already include overheads. I am now curious which meaning he is using,
LupusLilium
If 'at cost' covered the costs of running the business, I figure (if this is supposed to be a 'good' project and not to siphon money) most
LupusLilium
of the profit made of that 15% would go to expanding their selection and business.