Here are four points:
1. Kaléo CEO Spencer Williamson said the company has not yet determined a list price, but is making sure it is affordable. He told NYT, “We understand that price is central to this conversation. We believe that patients should be able to obtain the product without insurance barriers or high out-of-pocket costs. That’s our focus.”
2. When Auvi-Q was on the market years ago, its list price exceeded that of EpiPen’s, leading many to wonder whether its retune will actually lower prices. Originally, Auvi-Q entered the market in 2013, with the drug having a 10 percent market share and a dedicated customer base. However, the drug’s original manufacturer, Sanofi, took the drug off the market after reports circulated that Auvi-Q was not delivering the correct doses of epinephrine.
3. Mylan also announced it will launch an EpiPen generic version before the end of 2016, which may drive down prices. In 2013, Mylan executives said Auvi-Q’s launch was a core reason Mylan was forced to increase its own prices.
4. Legislators have also questioned Kaléo for its pricing mechanisms. In June, two senates probed Kaléo officials about how the company was working to make sure consumers had access to Evzio, a device that dispenses the anti-overdose medication naloxone. The company charges $3,750 for a pair of Evzio injectors, with the company saying it gives a “generous” patient assistance and donation program to those in need.
More articles on quality & infection control:
Is Zika becoming an endemic disease in the US? 6 things to know
NPs & PAs prescription of antibiotics on the uptick: 5 takeaways
Mayo Clinic, ASU to offer certificate in healthcare cost management: 5 insights
