Today’s Managing Health Care Costs Number is $4500
Source: Medical Letter
It seems like eons ago that we were arguing over EpiPen – an autoinjector that delivers a dirt-cheap generic medication that can save the life of someone who has an allergic reaction. The drug was purchased by Mylan pharmaceuticals which progressively raised its price from $100 to $750 – and faced massive public outcry.
Mylan’s CEO (the daughter of WV Senator Joe Manchin (D)) was subjected to Congressional hearings, and the company lowered the price (from $750 to $600) and introduced a generic version for half the price (which undersold another generic)
One interesting sidenote was that there had been an EpiPen competitor, Auvi-Q, produced by Sanofi, which gave audio instructions for injection. This had been priced competitivelywith EpiPen when it was introduced in 2013 (each was a bit shy of $250 for two doses) - but had been removed from the market due to production issues.
Good news. Auvi-Q is back!
Not so good news. Auvi-Q is priced at $4500 for two doses.
WHAT?
It’s getting hard to summon outrage about pharmaceutical prices (and a lot else). Why should a delivery system that was priced at $250 in 2013 be marketed for $4500 in 2017? Obviously, when it comes to pricing there is no shame – the company selling this also sells Evzio, an autoinjector for naloxone to reverse narcotic overdose for $4500
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