Feldman and his colleagues hope an OTC switch would lower prices due to “robust generic competition” from manufacturers.

The cost of prescription asthma inhalers increased an average of 35% from 2013 to 2018, according to a GoodRx analysis from 2020.

Without insurance, leading asthma treatment brand Adavir went for about $470 in 2021. Other brands’ prices ranged from $75 to $520, with an average cost of $290 without insurance for a single inhaler, health insurance-alternative company Mira reported.

Primatene Mist is available online at prices between less than $40 and more than $50 for containers with 160 sprays delivering 0.125 mg epinephrine.

The original OTC Primatene Mist was available under an OTC monograph before being removed from the market in 2011 because it used chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants, a chemical known to deplete the ozone. Although previously available under a monograph, the FDA asked Amphastar for an NDA for reformulated Primatene Mist. (Also see "OTC Emergency Asthma Inhaler NDA Survives, Needs Additional Studies" - Pink Sheet, 17 July, 2014.)

Since approved, it’s been a sales driver for Amphastar. The company reported that Primatene Mist was a key driver for overall sales growth of 26% to $120.9m in the fourth quarter and 25% to $437.8m for 2021. The firm expects that sales for Primatene will hit $100m by 2024. (Also see "Primatene Mist Drives Amphastar Sales Growth" - HBW Insight, 23 March, 2022.)

US Needs OTC Inhalers For Asthma Treatment, And FDA Should Force A Switch, Researchers Say

More from Rx-to-OTC Switch

More from Health