U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown working to reduce price of drug for pregnant moms
Youngstown Vindicator – Pregnant mothers and their premature babies will ultimately pay the health price because they may not be able to afford the medicine that prevents premature births, a U.S. senator and local health officials say.
The progesterone-based medicine (hormone) that used to cost $10 to $20 an injection now costs $1,500.
The usual prescription is one dose per week for 20 weeks, said Dr. Oscar Khawli, who treats high-risk pregnancies at St. Elizabeth Health Center.
Cerebral palsy and other birth defects such as learning disabilities are an increased danger in premature births, Dr. Khawli said.
A medicine that previously cost between $200 and $400 per pregnancy is now about $30,000, said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who is attempting to force KV Pharmaceuticals, which has FDA approval to exclusively market the medicine named Makena, to lower the price.
