Columbus, Ohio-based West-Ward Pharmaceuticals — the U.S. subsidiary of London-based Hikma Pharmaceuticals — increased the price of a common diarrhea drug by 430 percent, reports Financial Times.
Here are four things to know.
- West-Ward raised the price of a 60 milliliter bottle of liquid atropine-diphenoxylate, known by the brand name Lomotil, from about $16 a bottle to $84 in the beginning of August.
- The drugmaker also raised the prices for five other drugs by an average increase of 237 percent. Five of the drugs, including the diarrhea medication, are liquid versions of drugs that are available for much cheaper in pill form.
- The Financial Times says West-Ward is either the only U.S. supplier, or one of just two manufacturers, that produces the drugs.
- Brian Hoffman, president of U.S. generics at West-Ward, told the Financial Times 94 percent of the company's generic drug prices have either fallen or stayed the same in 2017.
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