It is the treatment that is preferred for a parasitic infection that is rare known as toxoplasmosis, which mainly threatens those with weaker immune systems like those with HIV, patients who recently had an organ transplant or pregnant women as it could kill the baby. That drives up future treatment and insurance costs.
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Apparently, Turing is reducing costs for hospitals to half the price, but medial insurers will be stuck with the costly price, according to the Associated Press.
Dr. Carlos del Rio, chairman of the HIV Medicine Association, called Turing’s changes “just window dressing”.
Michael Graae/For New York Daily News Martin Shkreli recently went back on his promise that he would lower the price of Daraprim, a life-saving drug for AIDS. However, Chief Marketing Officer of Turing Nancy Retzlaff said that those sales weren’t a factor in the pricing strategy of the biotech company.
The company has now stated that the price of the pills for patients will stay the same, with a reduction in price for hospitals only. He explained that patients do not need the drug just during their hospitalization; they also need to take it at home, so the discount for hospitals will not help them that much.
A furor over the staggering hike in price by Turing ensued, triggering a number of federal government investigations along with pledges from politicians that the high prices would be reined in.
Industry analysts said the medicine can be manufactured for only pennies and therefore needs to be reduced in price.
Turing, with offices in NY and Switzerland, bought USA rights to sell Daraprim in August, when it had no competition.
Shkreli shot to infamy – and was labelled a “morally bankrupt sociopath” – after Turing pharmaceuticals first jacked up the price.
Imprimis Chief Executive Officer Mark Baum said Wednesday in an exclusive interview that orders are pouring in for its version of Daraprim from doctors and the company has dispensed more than 2,500 capsules since October 22.
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The boss of a drug company which increased the cost of lifesaving HIV-treating medication by 5,000 per cent has been accused of not honouring a pledge to cut the drug’s price to patients. The man, an artist, tried to fill a prescription Dinges wrote for Daraprim but was told by his pharmacy that it wasn’t in stock and would cost about $27,000 for a month’s supply.
