$750 AIDS Drug Introduced by a US Pharmaceutical Now Gets a $1 Competitor

A pharmaceutical company has announced that it plans to introduce a significantly lower-cost version of Daraprim, the drug that made headlines last month after jumping from $13.50 per pill to $750.Imprimis Pharmaceuticals is offering a “customizable compounded formulations” of the two main ingredients in Turing Pharmaceuticals’ Daraprim, which is typically used to treat toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite.

“The drug is particularly critical for pregnant women and those infected with immunodeficiency disorders like HIV/AIDS. Their version of the pill will be available for less than a dollar per capsule. A 100-pill bottle will sell for as low at $99,” said the company.

“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, such as Daraprim, for patients, physicians, insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers to consider,” said Mark L. Baum, CEO of Imprimis.

The cheap version of Daraprim is only the beginning. The company plans to partner with third party insurers and buyers to implement a new program called Imprimis Cares that will make over 7,800 FDA-approved generic drugs available at an affordable price.

Source-Medindia