The Opioid antidote Naloxone injector manufacturer, Kaleo, has again hiked its price by over 600 percent. This follows the unique feature incorporated in Kaleo's Naloxone injector as well as the increasing demand for the tool. Experts then are becoming vocal of their opinion saying that the price increase is already way out of step.
Kaleo recently implemented a price hike on its life-saving antidote Naloxone injector, Evzio. From $690 in 2014, the tool now costs $ 4,500. The auto injector reportedly delivers the opioid antidote Naloxone by administering it to a patient through injection. A unique feature though to this Evzio injector is that it talks though the process, serving as a guide to those who administers the first aid to opioid overdose. It was for this feature that Kaleo reportedly decides to shoot up the price by almost $4000.
Furthermore, according to Healthcare Finance, the increasing demand of opioid antidote Naloxone injectors has also been a deciding factor to the pharmaceutical company's decision. It can be recalled that multiple reports of opioid overdose over the last weeks have been surfacing. Drug overdose have been a growing problem in the United States for the past years where over 33,000 peopled reportedly died in 2015 because of opioid overdose.
The demand for the Evzio Opioid has been increasing since. This and the talking tech of the opioid antidote Naloxone injector reportedly make the tool worthy of the price hike. Experts as well as critics though have spoken for the mass as they believe that the price raise is unwarranted according to ABC2 News. Even the cost of the antidote Naloxone has reportedly increased.
This price hike implemented by Kaleo is reminiscent of the controversial cost increase of Mylan's EpiPen. Kaleo was birthed by twin brothers Eric and Evan Richards who originally attempted to create an EpiPen competitor. Their first product though was recalled due to dose inaccuracies. The improved version though of their tool will be rereleased in mid-February.
Reports reveal that Kaleo has distributed in 2016 free Evzio injectors, but on a limited number. The first responders to the promo were reportedly in the urban areas as well as rehabilitation centers. The company is offering a discount card for the opioid antidote Naloxone injectors only to people with insurance, making the tool free in some cases.
