A preferred asthma inhaler is being discontinued. Though there is a generic version, the swap may result in disruptions in care as a result of not all insurance coverage firms are masking it.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
A preferred asthma inhaler is being discontinue. The drug known as Flovent will now not be obtainable beginning in January. And a few sufferers may not have the ability to swap medication straight away, leaving a spot of their medical care and placing them in danger for problems. NPR prescription drugs correspondent Sydney Lupkin is right here to inform us extra about this. Sydney, how lengthy has Flovent been round?
SYDNEY LUPKIN, BYLINE: So Flovent is a reasonably widespread asthma inhaler and it has been round because the 1990s. It is made by GSK, and it accommodates a corticosteroid utilized by sufferers four and older to forestall asthma assaults. It does that by lowering the irritation of their airways to maintain it beneath management. So it is not an inhaler for emergency asthma assaults, it is one thing sufferers have to take twice a day. Here is Kenny Mendez, the president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Basis of America.
KENNETH MENDEZ: Over 10 individuals die a day from asthma yearly, so it is actually essential to have your asthma well-controlled. And lots of people do not realize that asthma might be deadly, so it is actually essential to just remember to’re working with your physician, getting the fitting remedy.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah, it is actually essential for some individuals. Why is it being discontinued?
LUPKIN: So the corporate, GSK, says it is discontinuing Flovent as a result of it is making its personal generic version as an alternative, and doubtlessly saving sufferers cash by doing so. This generic does have a decrease money worth than the unique Flovent based on the web site GoodRx. However whether or not this is truly going to decrease sufferers’ prices on the pharmacy counter is extra sophisticated. This is not a typical generic made by an exterior firm to compete towards the unique product and finally decrease costs, this is what’s known as an licensed generic. It is made by the identical firm. Here is Mendez once more.
MENDEZ: Normally, individuals assume generics needs to be cheaper, proper? I imply, that is sort of the widespread data, however it actually will depend on the formulary and your insurance coverage plan and what’s lined and what’s not.
LUPKIN: So here is the problem with Flovent. In some instances, medical doctors are saying the licensed generic is not lined. Or if it is, sufferers should pay extra on the pharmacy counter. So some sufferers might want to swap or get new prescriptions, and that is simply hoops to leap by means of that doubtlessly disrupt care.
MARTÍNEZ: So simply to be clear, it is the identical product, proper?
LUPKIN: Proper. It is the identical remedy, similar system…
MARTÍNEZ: OK.
LUPKIN: …Made by the identical firm. The principle distinction is that it has a clear slate by way of worth hikes. I bought some money worth information from GoodRx to get a greater look. One Flovent product was round $230 a decade in the past, now it is round $340, so nearly a 50% enhance. And with worth hikes like that, it is attainable the drug firm would’ve confronted new penalties geared toward extreme worth hikes. In the meantime, the licensed generic version has solely been round a 12 months, so it is round $310. So by solely providing this new generic, GSK can promote the drug however with no historical past of worth hikes.
MARTÍNEZ: All proper. So what can individuals do to verify they nonetheless get their remedy?
LUPKIN: Nice query. What medical doctors and medical societies are suggesting is to bear in mind and take motion now. Fill your prescription for Flovent when you nonetheless can. Begin speaking to your physician and insurance coverage firm about choices. There are different asthma medication if that looks like the only option for you. Each affected person and each well being plan is completely different. However you might have to get the ball rolling with your insurance coverage on issues like prior authorization, which might take time, so it is best to not wait.
MARTÍNEZ: That is NPR prescription drugs correspondent Sydney Lupkin. Thanks lots.
LUPKIN: You guess.
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