Big Pharma so greedy - massive price hikes on overdose drugs

[womanofthehills]

Amidst a growing opioid epidemic across the nation, big pharma is seeing dollar signs and an opportunity to make big bucks off of a lifesaving medication which saves thousands of lives yearly.

Narcan is a drug which has the ability to save the life of an individual who has overdosed on heroin by blocking the effects of the drug immediately after the overdose occurs.

In typical greedy pharma style, the company which makes Narcan and it’s generic version Naloxone have massively hiked the prices to capitalize on the growing need. There are five versions of the drug on the market, and yet, the price continues to rise.

Generic Naxolene has been on the market since 1971 and this version of the drug, manufactured by Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, is the most commonly-used version in emergency responders and in private homes during an overdose.

More than 28,000 people died from opioid and heroin overdoses in 2014, more than any year on record, according to the Centers for Disease Control. As the opioid epidemic set in, outpatient use of naloxone has increased by 72 percent in the last five years, according to Food and Drug Administration data.

http://trofire.com/2016/05/31/big-pharma-seeks-big-bucks-heroin-overdose-massive-hikes-life-saving-overdose-medicine/

In New Hampshire, which has experienced a massive growth in opioid usage in recent years, 2,800 doses of Narcan have been used since January, saving thousands of lives.

[saidsimplesimon]

1. recommended womanofthehills

I took hills as topography. So from someone who is really from the mountains and has worked for Eli Lilly, they are in it for the money. The President handed the pharmaceutical industry more profit on a silver platter. Why I have no clue.

[womanofthehills]

5. I do live in the mountains off a 4 mile dirt road

surrounded by cedar, juniper, pinyon, and cacti. I'm located on top of a big hill with hills all around and a beautiful view of the Manzano Mountains.

My life is good up here in the mountains - wonderful thing about small communities everyone knows everyone. All of my neighbors are very environmentally aware which is why I live up here. The one sad thing in my life is my grandaughter's addiction to drugs. She gets better and I feel good and then she slips back and I worry big time.

[NightWatcher]

2. Time to hunt Big Pharma execs, kill them, eat them, and wear their skins

What's the big deal? We've all got to eat and wear clothes.

[ohnoyoudidnt]

3. "There are five versions of the drug on the market, and yet, the price continues to rise."

Collusion?

[underpants]

4. Related - good long read - Pharma uses charities to rip off Medicare Med D plans.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016157352

[blue neen]

6. Big Pharma.

Truly the ultimate in greed.

[Sister to TxTowelie]

7. Naloxone was administered by two deputies twice this week in

my county to two teens (separate events) who overdosed. One almost didn't make it as he required two doses before EMS arrived. I'm pleased that the sheriff's dept has the drug in their kits, even if big pharma is ripping us off.

Georgia has a heroine problem.

[djean111]

8. This is the drug Hillary plans to make available to all first responders, if she is president.

I see big fat government contracts.

[sendero]

9. Almost everyone in the medical space....

.... is terminally greedy because they are dealing with a captive market where consumers have little or no choice.

Nothing is going to change until we use single payer like the rest of the civilized world.