Walgreens launches own brand of opioid overdose reversal drug

U.S. pharmacy chain operator Walgreens Boots Alliance WBA said on Wednesday it has launched its own brand of popular overdose reversal drug, naloxone, which would be available over-the-counter (OTC).

The launch comes weeks after Walgreens' brand was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Opioid abuse has plagued the United States for more than two decades and killed more than half a million Americans, with fentanyl and synthetic versions being a major culprit in recent years, according to government data.

Naloxone rapidly reverses or blocks the effects of opioids, restoring normal respiration, especially when given within minutes of the first signs of an overdose.

It is seen as a key tool to help in surviving an opioid overdose.

CONTEXT

The U.S. FDA approved an OTC version of Emergent Biosolutions' EBS Narcan last year, aimed at making it easier to access without a prescription.

The health regulator had approved the first generic version of the medication in 2021, sold by Israeli drugmaker Teva Pharmaceuticals TEVA.

Other drugmakers also sell various versions of the product, and privately held Harm Reduction Therapeutics' naloxone-based nasal spray, RiVive, is also approved for prescription-free sale.

BY THE NUMBERS

Walgreens said its naloxone-based drug, sold as Naloxone HCl Nasal Spray, is currently available online and will be available in all of its stores by the end of the month.

Walgreens' spray would be sold at a retail price of $34.99 per pack, with each pack containing two single doses of 4 milligrams each.

The OTC version of Emergent BioSolutions' Narcan is sold at around $50 per carton.