Looks like that Turing Pharmaceuticals price hike spearheaded by its ever-vilified CEO Martin Shkreli was all for naught: San Diego’s Imprimis Pharmaceuticals has developed an alternative for the $750-per-pill Daraprim, for just $1 a pop.
The specialty pharmaceutical company is rolling out a customizable, compounded formulation of two drugs – pyrimethamine and leucovorin – and it’s being framed as a low cost alternative for Daraprim. But while Daraprim’s price was hiked more than 5,000 percent up from $13.50, this new formulation will be sold as low as $99 for a 100-count bottle, the company says. Pyrimethamine is a primary compound in Daraprim.
“It is indisputable that generic drug prices have soared recently,” Imprimis CEO Mark L. Baum said in a statement. “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.”
Joining the public crusade against prescription drug hikes, Imprimis smartly launched a new program called “Imprimis Cares” to help care providers source affordable generic medications.
It must be noted that Imprimis’ finished compounded drug formulations don’t have an FDA approval label for recommended use. Instead, physicians
Given that Turing’s Daraprim is a generic drug, it was only a matter of time before a competitor arose. But this is quick.
