In a groundbreaking development, the life-saving opioid overdose antidote Narcan will soon be available over the counter, marking the first time a treatment of this nature can be obtained without a prescription.
Emergent BioSolutions, the manufacturer of Narcan, announced on Wednesday that the initial shipment of the nasal spray has been dispatched to leading drug stores, pharmacies, groceries, and online retailers.
The original version of Narcan, a prescription-strength 4-milligram nasal spray containing naloxone, will hit the market in September. The suggested retail price for a two-dose package of Narcan is set at $44.99.
Major retailers such as CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens have indicated that they anticipate making Narcan available both online and in-store in the coming week.
Narcan has the potential to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, including those from potent substances like fentanyl. The alarming rise in deaths caused by these overdoses has transformed into a nationwide epidemic, impacting communities across the country. According to Emergent’s statement, it is now the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States.
In March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for over-the-counter use of Narcan. Since then, the FDA has approved a generic version of Narcan and a second brand-name naloxone nasal spray called ReVive.
Upon Narcan’s approval, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf hailed it as a crucial step forward in combating the overdose crisis and pledged to prioritize access to the medication.
“The FDA is fully committed to addressing the complex challenges posed by the overdose crisis. As part of this ongoing effort, the agency has utilized its regulatory authority to make naloxone more accessible, culminating in the approval of an over-the-counter naloxone product that addresses the urgent public health need,” stated Califf in March.
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