New York–based Turing Pharmaceuticals recently caught flak for buying an old medication (the drug Daraprim, used to treat a dangerous parasite) and dramatically raising its price to make a profit–from $13.50 to $750 per pill. Although Turing reversed course, a health care industry group cites other examples to show such hikes are becoming common.
DOXYCYCLINE HYCLATE
Common antibiotic
4¢ per tablet in 2013
$3.70 per tablet in 2014
+ 8,281%
ALBUTEROL SULFATE
Used to treat asthma
11¢ per tablet in 2013
$4.34 per tablet in 2014
+ 4,014%
GLYCOPYRROLATE
Used to treat irregular heartbeats during surgery
$6.50 per vial in 2013
$127.70 per vial in 2014
+ 2,728%
DIGOXIN
Used to treat irregular heartbeats and heart failure
11¢ per tablet in 2012
$1.10 per tablet in 2014
+ 884%
DIVALPROEX SODIUM ER
Used to prevent migraines and certain seizures
39¢ per tablet in 2013
$2.93 per tablet in 2014
+ 736%
PRAVASTATIN SODIUM
Used to treat high cholesterol and prevent heart disease
5¢ per tablet in 2013
39¢ per tablet in 2014
+ 573%
Percentages reflect price reporting variations noted in study
SOURCES: U.S. GOVERNMENT; HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAIN ASSOCIATION
This appears in the October 05, 2015 issue of TIME.
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