Daraprim is manufactured by Turing Pharmaceuticals.
By Raif Karerat
Infectious diseases specialists are up in arms over a massive overnight price hike to a 62-year-old drug that is key in treating parasitic infections in individuals with weak immune systems.
The drug, called Daraprim, was acquired in August by Turing Pharmaceuticals, a start-up run by a former hedge fund manager, and recently increased the cost of the drug 5,000 percent from $13.50 to $750 per pill.
The HIV Medicine Association and Infectious Diseases Society of America wrote Turing about concerns over the new price, reported USA Today. Dr. Judith Aberg, the chief of the division of infectious diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said she worries the increase will prevent hospitals from stocking Daraprim, which could delay patient treatment.
“What is it that they are doing differently that has led to this dramatic increase?” Aberg, who is also a spokesperson for the HIV Medicine Association, rhetorically asked The Times. She said the price increase could force hospitals to use “alternative therapies that may not have the same efficacy.”
Turing CEO Martin Shkreli, defended his company’s actions to the New York Times. He claims that so few patients use the drug that the healthcare system will not be negatively affected.
“This isn’t the greedy drug company trying to gouge patients, it is us trying to stay in business,” explained. “This is still one of the smallest pharmaceutical products in the world… It really doesn’t make sense to get any criticism for this.”
Shkreli also said the money will be used to invest in research for a better drug to treat the same diseases.
About 60 million people in the United States may carry the Toxoplasma parasite, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It can take hold after eating under-cooked meat, cooking with contaminated knives and boards, drinking unclean water, and contact with infected cat feces.
Meanwhile, Dr. Wendy Armstrong, professor of infectious diseases at Emory University, questioned Turing’s claim that there is a need for an updated version of the Daraprim after more than 60 years of physicians successfully using the drug.
“I certainly don’t think this is one of those diseases where we have been clamoring for better therapies,” said Armstrong.