Octapharma Initiative Expands Availability of Octagam 5%
- By BSTQ Staff
Octapharma USA has started an initiative to make octagam (immune globulin intravenous [human] 5%), a therapy for primary immune deficiency, widely available to covered entities in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which is managed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA). The 340B Drug Pricing Program is available to certain hospitals, clinics and outpatient treatment facilities that qualify as “covered entities” under Public Law 102-585, the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which is codified as Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act. More than 17,000 covered entity sites participate in the 340B Program, including six categories of hospitals that are generally considered safety net providers, and 11 categories of nonhospital covered entities, such as federally qualified health centers and specialized clinics and treatment centers.
“Octapharma is committed to providing therapies to treat life-threatening conditions to all patients, including those who are treated in facilities that have historically faced challenges accessing IGIV,” said Octapharma USA President Flemming Nielsen. “We are pleased that the supply of octagam 5% is now sufficient to adequately serve 340B covered entities, that have in recent years experienced difficulties in accessing specialty drugs such as IGIV at 340B discount prices. Octapharma is committed to serving patient needs, regardless of where they receive treatment, and ensuring a steady supply of octagam 5% to all our hospital customers.”
Octapharma USA intends to use FFF Enterprises of Temecula, Calif., and ASD Healthcare of Frisco, Texas, as the contact point for distribution. More distributors will be added later in the year. Octapharma USA, a subsidiary of Octapharma AG, one of the world’s largest human protein product manufacturers, has been marketing octagam 5% since 2004.
