WOONSOCKET, R.I., Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) today announced that a low-cost epinephrine
auto-injector option, the authorized generic for Adrenaclick®
manufactured by Impax Laboratories (IPXL), is available at all CVS
Pharmacy locations at a cash price of $109.99 for a two-pack. This compares to a cash
price of $649.99 for EpiPen® and
$339.99 for the authorized generic
for EpiPen.
"As a health care company focused on helping people on their
path to better health, we recognized that there was an urgent need
in the marketplace for a less expensive epinephrine auto-injector
for patients with life-threatening allergies," said Helena Foulkes, President of CVS Pharmacy. Over
the past year, nearly 150,000 people signed on to a petition asking
for a lower cost epinephrine auto-injector option and millions more
were active in social media searching for a solution.
"In order to address this challenge," Foulkes continued, "we
have partnered with Impax to purchase their epinephrine
auto-injector at a price that is lower than similar brand or
authorized generic epinephrine auto-injectors. We are passing
these savings along to our customers and patients, making this
product available at all CVS Pharmacy locations at the lowest cash
price in the market."
The price of $109.99 for the
authorized generic of Adrenaclick two-pack applies to both insured
and cash-paying patients without insurance. This solution
will be particularly beneficial for those insured patients who have
consumer-directed health plans and have not yet met their
deductible for the plan year. Additional cost reductions for the
generic Adrenaclick are available for qualifying patients who use
the coupon program offered through Impax which provides a benefit
of $100 per pack.
"We are thrilled to work with CVS Health to increase access to
our low-cost generic Adrenaclick epinephrine auto-injector," said
Douglas Boothe, President, Generics
Division, Impax Laboratories. "Families need and deserve an
affordable option to treat severe allergies."
"We're encouraged to see national efforts to make epinephrine
auto-injectors more affordable and more available to Americans
across the country," said Cary
Sennett, MD, PhD, President and CEO of the Asthma and
Allergy Foundation of America. "Partnerships that increase access
to vital medications are key in helping those suffering from
life-threatening allergies."
"Anaphylaxis is a rapid onset, life-threatening allergic
reaction that requires immediate diagnosis
and treatment. For these patients, having access to
emergency epinephrine is a necessity. Making an affordable
epinephrine auto-injector device accessible to patients will ensure
patients have the medicine they need, when they need it," said Todd
M Listwa, MD, FACEP, Novant Health.
The authorized generic of Adrenaclick is a Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved device with the same active
ingredient as other epinephrine auto-injector devices. The American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) includes generic
Adrenaclick among therapeutic options in an anaphylaxis emergency
action plan.[1]
About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their
path to better health. Through its more than 9,600 retail
pharmacies, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading
pharmacy benefits manager with more than 80 million plan members, a
dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one
million patients per year, and expanding specialty pharmacy
services, the Company enables people, businesses and communities to
manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique
integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better
health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more
information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at
https://www.cvshealth.com.
EpiPen® is the registered trademark of Mylan Inc.
Adrenaclick® is the registered trademark of Lineage Therapeutics,
Inc., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Impax Laboratories,
Inc.
Media Contacts:
Erin Britt
(401) 770-9237
Erin.Britt@CVSHealth.com
Carolyn Castel
(401) 770-5717
Carolyn.Castel@CVSHealth.com
[1]
https://www.aaaai.org/Aaaai/media/MediaLibrary/PDF%20Documents/Libraries/Anaphylaxis-Emergency-Action-Plan.pdf
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SOURCE CVS Health