NEW CITY – Naloxone, also known as Narcan, has become a useful tool in reversing the deadly effects of opioid overdoses, but State Senator David Carlucci says it is becoming more and more difficult to pay for the drug.
He said the largest of five major manufacturers of the drug, Amphastar, has raised the per dose price from $12 to $41 over the last four years and as far as Carlucci is concerned, that should be investigated.
“We have to go after pharmaceutical companies that are price gouging,” he said on Friday as he released a report looking at costs of the medication. He is introducing legislation to give the state attorney general “the tools to bring price gouging to court.” New York must have the ability to fight price gouging of Naloxone, Carlucci said.
Under Carlucci’s bill, a court would be allowed to impose a civil fine of up to $1 million and order restitution to affected customers if price gouging can be proven.
