Walgreens, in partnership with drugmaker Kaleo, will be the first retail pharmacy to offer Auvi-Q, an alternative to EpiPen, in an effort to combat the nationwide shortage of the lifesaving allergy drug, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The retail pharmacy will stock Auvi-Q, an epinephrine auto-injector manufactured by Kaleo, which was previously only available through its mail delivery program.
The list price for Auvi-Q is steep at $4,500; however, a spokesperson for the company said eligible patients with commercial insurance, including those with high deductible health plans or whose insurers don't cover it, can get Auvi-Q for free.
Those who pay cash at the pharmacy counter will be charged $360 for two auto-injectors.
Auvi-Q's introduction into Walgreens retail pharmacy comes as the nation faces a shortage of EpiPens sparked by manufacturing delays. Drugstores across the U.S. have run short on supply, and families have been scrambling to find EpiPens during the back-to-school season.