4 ms·

The price will probably be lower, as the article suggests, but there are currently epipen shortages so teva can charge more until the shortages are resolved. T

The price will probably be lower, as the article suggests, but there are currently epipen shortages so teva can charge more until the shortages are resolved. Typically the second generic product brings the largest price reduction [0]. However epipen is a unique scenario. I'm not sure how hard it is to develop a generic epipen, but it is definitely not a straightforward small molecule generic, so presumably there will be fewer generic versions than you see with drugs like lipitor. So it is possible that the market resolves to an oligopoly with 3-5 players that all make decent profits; there is precedent for this (i think the pancreatic enzymes market is an example) [0] https://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/centersoffices/officeofmedicalproductsandtobacco/cder/ucm129385.htm https://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/centersoffices/officeofmedicalp...

deleted 8y ago
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btilly 8y ago
A generic epipen is not only not hard to develop, but you can find youtube videos explaining how to build one yourself. See https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/hackers-offer-a-diy-alternative-to-the-600-epipen https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/ha....
- opencl 8y ago
  It's not even 'building' one, it is literally just buying a commercially available FDA approved autoinjector and a vial of epinephrine to load into it. It is really strange that the FDA is totally fine with diabetics buying vials of insulin and loading their own autoinjectors, but doing the same thing with epinephrine is apparently extremely dangerous and the FDA doesn't want you to do it[1]. [1] https://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Article/2016/09/22/US-FDA-warns-against-30-alternative-to-Mylan-s-EpiPen https://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Article/2016/09/22/US-...
  - function_seven 8y ago
    This is a devil's advocate argument, but the difference is between one person who routinely uses the drug versus another who may go for years before needing to use it in an emergency situation. The EpiPen is designed to be used with minimal training. A diabetic who injects themselves regularly with insulin is presumed to have the skill to do it without screwing it up.
    - opencl 8y ago
      The person using it (performing the injection) doesn't need any more training than an epipen, they are basically the same in that regard. You take off the cap, push it against the skin, and press a button. The slightly tricky part is loading the injector which would presumably be done by the patient well ahead of it actually being used.
  - SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
    Insulin isn’t as dangerous for minor mess ups. Epi is a drug that is a vascodialator in large muscles and a vascoconstrictor in small muscles. If you inject the right amount of insulin in the wrong place, not much happens. If you inject the right amount of epi in the wrong place like a finger, you could lose that finger. You could argue a diabetic’s ability to administer during an event is just as bad someone in anaphylaxis all day long... one is passed out and the other is panicking because they are dying... But epipen’s unique injector is primarily to get the right amount in the right place. Two part problem it solves over the vial.
    - freshchilled 8y ago
      Diabetics don't tend to take insulin in a panic. If they are panicking, it's because they are already low, and need glucose (which can be administered in an injectable form, and is usually only used if the diabetic cannot be woken).
      - SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
        In my example the diabetic was passed out. Or like the with diabetics I've had to deal with, stubborn mule-like insistence they're fine! It's the people going into anaphylaxis that I think panic, for pretty good reason. But it's just an example. My point was more that insulin is generally safer than epinephrine.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

btilly 8y ago

A generic epipen is not only not hard to develop, but you can find youtube videos explaining how to build one yourself. See https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/hackers-offer-a-diy-alternative-to-the-600-epipen https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/devices/ha....

opencl 8y ago
It's not even 'building' one, it is literally just buying a commercially available FDA approved autoinjector and a vial of epinephrine to load into it. It is really strange that the FDA is totally fine with diabetics buying vials of insulin and loading their own autoinjectors, but doing the same thing with epinephrine is apparently extremely dangerous and the FDA doesn't want you to do it[1]. [1] https://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Article/2016/09/22/US-FDA-warns-against-30-alternative-to-Mylan-s-EpiPen https://www.in-pharmatechnologist.com/Article/2016/09/22/US-...
- function_seven 8y ago
  This is a devil's advocate argument, but the difference is between one person who routinely uses the drug versus another who may go for years before needing to use it in an emergency situation. The EpiPen is designed to be used with minimal training. A diabetic who injects themselves regularly with insulin is presumed to have the skill to do it without screwing it up.
  - opencl 8y ago
    The person using it (performing the injection) doesn't need any more training than an epipen, they are basically the same in that regard. You take off the cap, push it against the skin, and press a button. The slightly tricky part is loading the injector which would presumably be done by the patient well ahead of it actually being used.
- SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
  Insulin isn’t as dangerous for minor mess ups. Epi is a drug that is a vascodialator in large muscles and a vascoconstrictor in small muscles. If you inject the right amount of insulin in the wrong place, not much happens. If you inject the right amount of epi in the wrong place like a finger, you could lose that finger. You could argue a diabetic’s ability to administer during an event is just as bad someone in anaphylaxis all day long... one is passed out and the other is panicking because they are dying... But epipen’s unique injector is primarily to get the right amount in the right place. Two part problem it solves over the vial.
  - freshchilled 8y ago
    Diabetics don't tend to take insulin in a panic. If they are panicking, it's because they are already low, and need glucose (which can be administered in an injectable form, and is usually only used if the diabetic cannot be woken).
    - SlowRobotAhead 8y ago
      In my example the diabetic was passed out. Or like the with diabetics I've had to deal with, stubborn mule-like insistence they're fine! It's the people going into anaphylaxis that I think panic, for pretty good reason. But it's just an example. My point was more that insulin is generally safer than epinephrine.