US Pharm. 2011;36(4):8.
Bridgeton, MO—Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) was recently approved by the FDA to help prevent premature birth in women who have had at least one previous preterm delivery. Originally praised by the March of Dimes for addressing the serious risk of infant complications at birth, the proposed price of the drug is now under scrutiny. Makena is not a new drug; it is a synthetic form of progesterone that has been available from compounding pharmacies for years at a cost of $10 to $20 per injection. Under market exclusivity, the drug will be sold by a subsidiary of KV Pharmaceutical (Ther-Rx) at a cost of $1,500 per dose. Physicians, insurance companies, and the public are concerned that the significantly higher cost will affect the drug’s accessibility to low-income women. The drug company says it is reevaluating its pricing strategy and has “established a Patient Assistance Program with the goal of ensuring that every woman who is prescribed Makena will be able to access and afford it.”
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