Murphy & Serino praise agreement to cut and cap the price of lifesaving heroin overdose antidote, NARCAN

JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY - State Senators Terrence P. Murphy and Sue Serino today congratulated Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman upon reaching an agreement with Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to cut and cap the price of naloxone, or NARCAN, a highly effective antidote that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose. The contract stipulates that Amphastar will offer a $6 rebate per dose, which will also automatically increase, dollar-for-dollar, to match any future growth in the wholesale price, according to Schneiderman.

"Today's announcement by the Attorney General's Office regarding the reduced price of naloxone, the lifesaving opioid overdose antidote, is a crucial victory in our War on Heroin and Opioid Abuse," Senator Murphy said. "Earlier this week in Dutchess County we saw just how effective this antidote is after a trained police officer utilized her narcan kit at the scene of an overdose. As we continue to tackle this epidemic, I look forward to working with the Attorney General in expanding our state's supply of naloxone to all first responders."

"Today's announcement means that we have secured access to a critical tool in the fight against heroin," Senator Serino said. "I am encouraged by Amphastar's willingness to help us preserve this access, yet I hope we have sent a clear message that we will fight to maintain access to the resources our communities need to save lives."

After Amphastar raised the price of NARCAN last year, the then Senators-elect joined Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Putnam County Executive Mary Ellen Odell in penning a warning letter to Amphastar's CEO, Jack Zhang, stating that the increase in price could jeopardize access to the antidote in New York State. In today's agreement, it was announced that Amphastar has agreed to provide a rebate that will discount the wholesale price of naloxone by nearly 20 percent.

Senator Murphy was recently named co-chair of the Senate Joint Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction.