
Chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee Raises Questions Over Auvi-Q Price Tag
Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter to the Kaléo CEO questioning the drugs high listing price.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, is looking for answers regarding the listing price of Kaléo Pharmaceuticals’ Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection). In a March 8, 2017
“The Auvi-Q is an epinephrine injector, just like Mylan’s EpiPen, but it is priced at $4500 for a two-pack whereas the EpiPen is priced at $600 with a $300 authorized generic,” Sen. Grassley wrote. “Reports also indicate that consumers without insurance will be able to pay $360 for a two-pack. Your pricing of Auvi-Q appears to draw parallels with concern about EpiPen’s pricing structure.”
While it is likely that patients may never have to pay the $4500 asking price, Sen. Grassley noted that the pricing structure “may simply shift the burden and cost to another entity within the health care system.” Several insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers including Cigna and Express Scripts have already said they will not pay for Auvi-Q, a
Kaléo released
Grassley’s letter to Kaléo is reminiscent of one he
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