In 1999 -- the first full year of Remicade's availability -- use of Remicade dramatically increased each month. The cost of each infusion of Remicade is $1,400. Since the drug only lasts in the body for six (6) to eight (8) weeks and because this drug is not a cure, but, as with all other widely available Crohn's treatments today, treats only symptoms, multiple infusions must be done on many patients. Further, due to the dangers of this treatment, Remicade must be infused in a hospital setting under the care of a physician and numerous medical professionals, resulting in additional hospital, physician and hospital staff costs. Excluding the cost of medical care, and assuming that only one-third of Crohn's patients opt to try this new treatment, and assuming that each patient has only one infusion, this new treatment will, using the most conservative estimates, increase the total annual cost of Crohn's by an additional $190 million [rounded]