Amid a Twitterstorm and weeks of public outrage , chief operating officer of Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkrelisaid in Septemberhe would reduce the price of his company ’s HIV medication after give it a 5,000 percent cost increasein Augustfrom $ 13.50 ( £ 8.70 ) to $ 750 ( £ 485 ) per birth control pill .
But on Wednesday , Turing Pharmaceuticals released astatementsaying it would only be giving 50 pct discounts of Daraprim to hospital who “ bulk buy ” the HIV medication , which additionally is still far above the original price , and leaving the even price at the hugely high-flown cost .
Many have say this is simply a exquisitely craft Porto Rico move . Dr. Carlos del Rio , chairman of the HIV Medicine Association , said to theAssociated Pressthat Turing ’s change were " just window fertilisation . "
The decision could really just imply the burden of price will now falls on underwriter , who will be forced to drive up the toll of a patient ’s insurance and their future intervention .
Del Rio went on to say that although hospitals treat most patients initially , the bulk of the treatment learn place at home with calendar month of ethical drug .
Another part of the architectural plan is to produce 30 - anovulant bottleful , as well as 100 - pill bottles , to make it well-heeled for hospitals and drugstore to stock the pricey drug .
Daraprim is used by patients with AIDS or cancer to fight the Toxoplasma gondii parasite . The parasite is commonly found on unwashed yield , and in infected meat and urine . For most people , the parasite is easy fought off . However , if you have a compromised resistant organization , such as people with HIV , it can top to seizures , cecity or neurological damage .
The price salary increase - up of Daraprim has already affected many people in the United States . Dr. Warren Dinges , from the Seattle Infectious Diseases Clinic , toldAssociated Pressthat one of his patients suffering from HIV narrow toxoplasmosis and ask the drug . The pharmacy tell apart the patient a month ’s path of oral contraceptive pill would cost around $ 27,000 ( £ 17,945 ) .
