Imprimis offers low-cost alternative to Turing’s Daraprim drug

Turing acquired the US rights to Daraprim in August this year and was criticized severely for increasing the price of the drug to $750 per tablet from $13.50 per tablet.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Daraprim in combination with a sulfonamide and leucovorin to treat toxoplasmosis, which can be of major concern for patients with weakened immune systems such as those living with HIV/AIDS.

Other patients at risk may include pregnant women and infants. Daraprim and a sulfonamide work together to block folic acid synthesis in the parasite, which interferes with parasitic reproduction in the body.

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals CEO Mark Baum said: "While we respect Turing’s right to charge patients and insurance companies whatever it believes is appropriate, there may be more cost-effective compounded options for medications, such as Daraprim, for patients, physicians, insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers to consider.

"This is not the first time a sole supply generic drug – especially one that has been approved for use as long as Daraprim – has had its price increased suddenly and to a level that may make it unaffordable."

Imprimis is forming a new program, dubbed Imprimis Cares, to make novel and customizable medicines available to physicians and patients at accessible prices.