A prescription drug from Turing Pharmaceuticals sparked controversy in September when its price jumped from $13.50 to a reported $750 per tablet. Now it has found competition in a $1 alternative.
Imprimis Pharmaceuticals announced the launch of its alternative to HIV drug Daraprim, a brand-name formulation of pyrimethamine and used as a treatment for toxoplasmosis and other infections, which is especially critical among patients with HIV/AIDS and pregnant women.
The San Diego biomedical firm promoted its FDA-approved generic drug as a “customizable formulation of pyrimethamine and leucovorin” available for as low as $99 dollars for a 100-count bottle, or under a dollar per capsule.
Pyrimethamine blocks the synthesis of folic acid in the parasite, while leucovorin assists in mitigating the adverse effects of the infection on the bone marrow.
According to Imprimis' CEO Mark L. Baum, they are competing against other generic drug manufacturers, many of which recently introduced price hikes.
“While we respect Turing's right to charge patients and insurance companies whatever it believes is appropriate, there may be more cost-effective compounded options for medications,” he said in a press release.
Baum announced they are forming a program called "Imprimis Cares" to make these customizable medications available to more doctors and patients at affordable costs. Over 7,800 generic drugs are in the pipeline as part of the program.
Turing is not the only pharmaceutical company involved in sudden and drastic generic drug price hikes. Valeant Pharmaceuticals increased the prices of heart drugs Nitropress and Isuprel by 212 percent and 525 percent immediately upon acquisition.
It also raised the cost of the heartburn medication Zegerid by 550 percent in 2015. The drug was developed by Santarus, which was bought by Salix Pharmaceuticals in November 2013. Valeant purchased Salix March this year.
Opposition followed from various sectors, including drug industry insiders and politicians including Democratic presidential bets Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.
CEO of life science trade group Biocom Joe Panetta deemed the announcement of Imprimis as welcome news, saying price increases from companies like Turing had “no justification… other than profit.”
Photo: Chris Potter | Flickr
