I am trying to find out what the exact cost per tablet of Ivermectin
produced by Merck.  I will need to know a source so that I can reference it.

Hi  Howler,

As you likely already know, Ivermectin is used in animals and in
humans for treatment of various parasitic disorders.  I've taken the
liberty of assuming that you are not simply looking for the per-unit
cost of a canine heartworm pill which you could easily get by calling
a local veterinary office. Instead I am assuming you are interested in
Merck's product as it pertains to humans.

The information I've presented is by CenterWatch,  a Boston-based
publishing and information service  that provides "information
services used by patients, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical
device companies, CROs and research centers involved in clinical
research around the world."    I would consider them a reputable
source.

Here is the cost, per pill and per dosage


Drugs Approved by the FDA
Drug Name: Stromectol (ivermectin)
Company: Merck & Co., Inc.
Approval Status: Approved March 1997
Treatment for: nondisseminated intestinal threadworm

Merck’s catalog price for Stromectol is $7.50 per tablet, or
approximately $15 for an average single dose.

http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/drugs/dru250.html


As you also probably know, Merck donates Ivermectin to countries whose
populations suffer from River Blindness.  Just as added interest,
getting Ivermectin to the people adds another dimension to the cost --

Ivermectin, a new drug for river-blindness. The drug, manufactured by
Merck and Company, is offered at no cost to countries with
river-blindness. But delivery to the people costs about five U.S.
dollars a person.
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sdecatur/chem210/bibliography_pages/drugs.html

I'm glad to have been able to find this information for you!

--K~

Search terms: Ivermectin tablet Merck price

---

Clarification of Answer by knowledge_seeker-ga on 28 Jul 2002 16:14 PDT

Hi again Howler,

Something was bothering me about my answer, so I did some more
research. My concern was that the Ivermectin used for River Blindness
is marketed under the trade name Mectizan, not Stromectol. However, it
turns out they are one and the same:

Mectizan™ (ivermectin)
Marketed in the United States as Stromectol®. 

http://mtdesk.com/m.shtml

-K~

---

Request for Answer Clarification by howler-ga on 28 Jul 2002 16:45 PDT

I also need the cost of production of the tablet Ivermectin. I am
doing a cost benefit anaylsis of the free tablets given to developing
countries and we need to factor in the "actual cost" not just the over
the counter or purchase cost.

Thanks

---

Clarification of Answer by knowledge_seeker-ga on 29 Jul 2002 13:27 PDT

Hi again Howler, 

I'm sorry you weren't satisfied with my answer. Unfortunately,
specific numbers regarding Merck's cost to produce Ivermectin is
probably not something that is available to the public. These kinds of
things are considered proprietary information and companies are not
required to disclose them publicly.

The closest I can get you is the following quote, from which you may
be able to calculate the answer.

" … ivermectin donations are tax deductible under the U.S. tax code
for corporate donations. The total amount of tax deductions claimed by
Merck to date
is unknown, since this information is proprietary. One writer
estimated “a $.57
production savings on each tablet due to the tax laws which allow an
expense
deduction against taxes of double the drug value plus an allowance of
75 percent
for overhead” (Tavis, 1996, p. 258)." 

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hcpds/partnerbook/chap5.PDF   (p.97)

Despite the misunderstanding over the meaning of your question, I do
hope you continue to use Google Answers. In the future, to ensure
satisfactory answers, please remember to  state EXACTLY what you are
looking for in your original question and ask the researcher for
clarification BEFORE you post your rating.


Best of luck with your project --

--K~

*** I also need the actual cost (ie production) as to analyze the
costs and benefits of Mectizan Distribution Programs in foreign
countries.