Remember that guy who raised the price of an important drug from $13.50 per pill to $750 per pill overnight?
Here’s a refresher. His name is Martin Shkreli, and he’s the CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. The drug is called Daraprim, and it’s for toxoplasmosis, a parasite that people with compromised immune systems (AIDS sufferers, cancer patients), are at risk of.
He’s defended his decision, saying that it was necessary to raise his prices that much to make a profit, so that he could “invest in further research” about it.
But after too much media backlash, he said that he’d lower the price, but didn’t say by how much.
So now, a rival has taken matters into their own hands.
Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, a firm based out of San Diego, says they can make a version of Daraprim that is both more effective and safer. Not only that, but it’s only $1 per pill. They’re going to mix Daraprim with Leucovorin, which will decrease effects that the previous drug had on bone marrow cells.
CEO of Imprimis, Mark Baum, said:
“While we respect Turing’s right to charge patients and insurance companies whatever it believes is appropriate, there may be more cost-effective compounded options for medications, such as Daraprim, for patients, physicians, insurance companies, and pharmacy benefit managers to consider.”
He said it was part of a new program called Imprimis Cares, which would be dedicated to “making novel and customizable medicines available to physicians and patients today at accessible prices.
Shkreli continues to be childish in his responses. According to US Uncut, when reached out to for comment about this new development, he responded: “Lol.”
At least some people out there are doing good work.
