Turing Raises Daraprim Price 5000 Percent

A 5,000 percent price hike for the only drug indicated for treating a specific type of parasitic infection – and one that is critical for patients with lowered immune systems – is drawing howls from the public.

Turing Pharmaceuticals bought the decades-old medication, Daraprim, from Impax Laboratories in August, and within a month increased the per tablet price from $13.50 to $750.

Turing claims it purchased Daraprim (pyrimethamine) as part of an effort against life-threatening toxoplasmosis. Also used to treat malaria, the tablets were approved by the FDA in 1953.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association – which represent about 15,000 doctors and medical researchers – are asking the pharmaceutical company to establish fair pricing for the drug. The companies’ letter says the $750 charge per pill will amount to a price tag of $336,000 to $634,500 annually, depending on a patient’s weight.

Turing challenged the cost description. Company spokesman Allan Ripp said treatment periods for the majority of patients are six and 12 weeks, meaning the annual cost would be much lower.

The response came on the same day Turing CEO and former hedgefund manager Martin Shkreli defended the company on social media, tweeting, “no doubt I am a capitalist who plays to win. But unlike other companies with this strategy, we do R&D.”

Turing management blamed pricing and availability issues on its still-new deal with Impax.  The company’s plan includes establishing financial assistance programs to ensure the cost is not a barrier to patients.

Read the IDSA letter here www.fdanews.com/09-22-15-daraprim.pdf. — Victoria Pelham