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LA Times reports
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As need grows for painkiller overdose treatment, companies raise prices
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$4,500
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$4,500.
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$4,500 for naloxone manufactured by Kaleo, Richmond Virginia. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose.
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That seems to be their Evzio two-pack, two single-use injectors of naloxone in a hard case handy to carry in a pocket for someone who has an opioid overdose.
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Each has a 0.4 mg injection that last 2 or 3 minutes each, just long enough to call an ambulance.
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A drug that costs pennies, sold as a 2-pack for $690 in 2014, then $900, now $4,500 as of Feb. 1.
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“…Columbus, Ohio, said the city’s firefighters last year used 2,250 naloxone doses, or about 6 doses a day — at a cost of $147,000. Recently, Columbus also stocked the drug in 115 police cruisers….”
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FDA approved Evzio in April 2014 after granting fast-track status. Fast track now means gold mine status.
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Naloxone was first approved in 1971.
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“In July 2005 its average wholesale price for a vial of the injectible drug was $1.10, according to Truven Health Analytics.
By 2014, the price was almost $19 a vial.”
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Medical costs are astronomical, insurance premiums are up, insurance deductibles are $5,000 to $10,000 for many. Police, fire department and EMT’s are using naltrexone to save lives and lower ER visits.
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Taxes are high. Where is the initiative and innovation among EMT’s, police, fire? How many hours per day do they get paid full salary to work out at the gym and stay fit while they sit and wait for the next call to rescue an addict who overdosed. Then retire on double pensions if they hold two city jobs. While they wait for next calls, could they not fill syringes from a vial of naloxone? How much do taxpayers pay for these overpriced robotic filled syringes at factories.
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Pharma is raking it in. Pharma’s blood sucking 1% are overdosing on costs. Many of my patients with intractable pain who are on opioids were not able to afford $690. They are not addicts but any dose of opioid can kill. Your tax dollar pays for naloxone for addicts found dead, unresponsive.
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We are all paying a fortune for inexcusable pharma costs. Costs for millions of drug addicts all over the country. Costs for prescription medications. Congress unwilling to address anything that would cut the flow of donations to their coffers from pharma.
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Just remember, in Israel, it is illegal for corporate lobbyists to contact any politician.
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“Late last year, Adapt introduced a naloxone nasal spray named Narcan for a average wholesale price of $150 for two units, according to Truven.”
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That is a BD syringe fitted with a flared BD adapter at the tip to fit the nostril. It requires the user be capable of pushing the 1 mL syringe so the liquid is sprayed into nostril.
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For Pete’s sake. I’ve been prescribing medicine in these BD syringes with nasal adapter for years. Is there no EMT smart enough to make and stock their own supply to use for emergencies?
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“…as the demand for naloxone has risen — overdose deaths now total 130 every day, or roughly the capacity of a Boeing 737 — the drug’s price has soared.
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…Increased access to naloxone is among the measures included in federal legislation that Congress passed last week in response to the painkiller deaths. The White House has said that President Obama plans to sign the bill.
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Last month, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) wrote to Kaleo, Rancho Cucamonga’s Amphastar Pharmaceuticals and three other drug makers, asking why they had hiked prices for naloxone during a public health crisis.
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“At the same time this epidemic is killing tens of thousands of Americans a year,” said McCaskill, “we’re seeing the price of naloxone go up by 1,000% or more.
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…Mylan, which sells a vial [how many doses per vial?] for an average wholesale price of $23.70, according to Truven and Adapt Pharma of Dublin, Ireland.”
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