CVS Health recently announced that it cut the cash price of a generic epinephrine autoinjector by roughly 80 percent the cost of the EpiPen.
The company now offers Adrenaclick, the FDA-approved low-cost epinephrine autoinjector manufactured by Impax Laboratories, at CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide.
Customers with or without health insurance can buy the two-pack of generic epinephrine autoinjectors at the same price, $109.99, which represents a considerably lower cash price than the $649.99 EpiPen and $339.99 generic version of the EpiPen.
The move comes in the wake of price spikes by EpiPen manufacturer Mylan several months ago, as the company raised the price by more than 400 percent.
The company also faced increased scrutiny following NBC News reports that CEO Heather Bresch received a pay raise of 600 percent.
Following the backlash, Mylan produced a generic EpiPen for roughly half the price of the name-brand product.
Recently, Cigna Corp., a health insurance provider, announced it will no longer cover EpiPens and will instead provide coveage for Mylan's discounted version, according to The Wall Street Journal.
In a press statement, Helena Foulkes, president of CVS Pharmacy, discussed its decision to offer the generic epinephrine autoinjector:
"As a health care company focused on helping people on their path to better health, we recognized that there was an urgent need in the marketplace for a less expensive epinephrine auto-injector for patients with life-threatening allergies. Over the past year, nearly 150,000 people signed on to a petition asking for a lower cost epinephrine auto-injector option and millions more were active in social media searching for a solution."
Health officials have praised the move by companies like CVS for offering generic epinephrine autoinjector.
"We're encouraged to see national efforts to make epinephrine auto-injectors more affordable and more available to Americans across the country," said Dr. Cary Sennett, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America in the statement.
"Partnerships that increase access to vital medications are key in helping those suffering from life-threatening allergies."
Dr. Todd Listwa of FACEP and Novant Health also said in the statement, "Anaphylaxis is a rapid onset, life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment.
"For these patients, having access to emergency epinephrine is a necessity. Making an affordable epinephrine auto-injector device accessible to patients will ensure patients have the medicine they need, when they need it," he added.
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