April Bird
Montegomery, Alabama
- Plaque Psoriasis
- Diagnosed in 1988
- Biologic: Humira
April Bird struggles to pay for her medicine every month. Congress has the power to help.
Though just 25 years old, April has lived with psoriasis most of her life. Diagnosed at four years old, the disorder’s impact on April’s appearance was especially difficult for someone so young. Patches of her skin became inflamed and red, and covered with scales. The patches turned up on many parts of her body, including her arms, legs, and scalp. Doctors tried an assortment of treatments, but nothing worked. April endured strange looks throughout her childhood as a result.
Six years ago, however, a variety of advanced treatments began to surface that gave April new hope. The medicines, known as biologics, are groundbreaking treatments for a variety of disorders, including psoriasis. Unfortunately, they carry a prohibitively expensive price tag. April spent years trying to find one that worked that she could afford. She first tried Enbrel, but it did not help. She then took the biologic Humira for two years, a medicine that helped but did not solve her pain issues. Next, she took Remicade. The treatment relieved her symptoms, but the high cost, coupled with negative side effects, forced her to abandon the treatment.
Today, April is back on Humira, which she has found to be her best option. She worked out a deal with Humira’s manufacturer that allowed her to forego the co-pay for the costly treatment. Unfortunately, the plan recently expired. Now, she said her insurance company gives her a hard time about taking the biologic, which costs about $3,000 a month.
At her job as a pharmacy technician, April knows there are generic versions of countless drugs available, but none for biologics. She sees firsthand how much generic prescriptions can save customers. For both her own sake and those of her customers, April is hopeful Congress will create a reasonable pathway for generic biologics before the year is out. “Congress has a chance to get medicine to people who right now can’t afford it,” April said. “I’m all about some generics.”