On November 26, 2021, in Manhattan, New York City, a person rode by on a Walgreens truck, which is part of the Walgreens Boots Alliance.
Andrew Kelly | Reuters
walgreens It said on Wednesday it would offer a cheaper version of its own over the counter Opioid overdose reversal spray naloxone. The drug is available online and will be available in all stores by the end of this month.
The drugstore retailer aims to increase the availability of life-saving drugs in the United States as the country grapples with the toll of the opioid epidemic and attempts to reduce alarmingly high drug-related deaths.
According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 645,000 people died from an overdose of any opioid, including prescription opioids and illicit opioids, from 1999 to 2021.
If taken promptly, naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an overdose from opioids, including heroin and fentanyl. The drug blocks the effects of opioids on the brain, restoring normal breathing and preventing death.
A statement released by Walgreens said that despite the efficacy of naloxone, “access to this treatment remains limited in many communities.”
The company said it will sell a two-dose package of “Walgreens Brand Naloxone” for $34.99.More than 10 yuan cheaper than in China Over-the-counter brand-name drug Narcan, became the first over-the-counter version of naloxone approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year. Previously, patients needed a prescription to obtain naloxone.
Priya Mammen, senior medical director of Walgreens’ Office of Clinical Integrity, told CNBC: “This was a decision we made together and we really did our best to increase access, not only in terms of volume and availability, but also in terms of price. “An interview.
The company said its over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray was launched following FDA approval. recently approved product.it is generic The equivalent of an over-the-counter narcotic, Walgreens currently sells it in its stores.
Mammen hopes Walgreens can help reduce the stigma associated with overdose and naloxone use.
The drug “is not just for some people. It is a life-saving drug that can be used as an intervention for anyone at any age, at any time, and through its use families, individuals and communities can empower themselves and become part of the solution,” she said.
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