Escalating costs for two radiopharmaceuticals used for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) nuclear medicine scans in lung and kidney imaging are drawing the ire of pharmacies that prepare the materials for distribution to hospitals in the U.S., according to a June 30 report by PBS NewsHour.
The article describes how radiopharmaceutical supplier Jubilant DraxImage is facing criticism for price increases for two of its products: macroaggregated albumin (MAA) and diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA). Three years ago, prices increased between 500% and nearly 1,800%, NewsHour reported.
In 2014, Jubilant DraxImage implemented a one-time price hike in the U.S. for the two radiotracers. At the time, the company said the increase was designed to ensure the sustainability and long-term supply of MAA and DTPA for V/Q scans. Jubilant DraxImage is the only supplier of MAA and DTPA in North America.
A vial of MAA for lung imaging that once cost $20 to $30 increased to $350 to $450, based on the amount purchased. Meanwhile, DTPA for kidney imaging climbed from $20 to $30 per vial to $130 to $160, again based on the amount bought.
In addition, costs for MAA and DTPA each rose about 70% this year, along with the addition of "tightened contract requirements," according to the NewsHour article. Pharmacist Dennis McClure of Nuclear Apothecary in St. George, UT, also claimed that Jubilant DraxImage required a long-term contract obligating him to purchase a minimum amount of another of its products.
Given that Jubilant DraxImage is the lone supplier of the radiopharmaceuticals, McClure said he had no choice but to take the deal if he wanted to continue supplying vials of medicine to hospitals.
AuntMinnie.com reached out to Jubilant DraxImage but did not receive a reply by press time.
The changes could particularly affect rural or less-populated markets, according to the article. Tom Wilkinson, who operates Austin Nuclear in Austin, TX, explained how, as a small pharmacy, Austin Nuclear will get fewer doses from each vial. But customers will go elsewhere if he cannot provide the radiopharmaceuticals, he told NewsHour.
