Three Things Thursday highlights three things I am paying attention to as an epidemiologist each week.
This week I am cheering the newly approved at-home influenza tests and a price drop on insulin products, but I have a few words of caution. So maybe I’ll go with tempered cheering. I am also encouraging all of you to join me tomorrow in celebrating the National Day of Unplugging.
Hoping these posts help to educate and empower you
to be healthy and create healthy communities.
At-home Influenza Tests Approved by FDA (but…)
On Monday, the FDA approved an emergency use authorization for a dual at-home test for COVID and influenza. The test was developed by a California-based medical technology company, Lucira Health, Inc.
The dual tests were approved for over-the-counter use at home and other non-laboratory sites. According to Lucira Health, the at-home tests, which use nucleic acid amplification and provide results within 30 minutes, performed similarly to PCR tests for COVID as well as influenza A & B in clinical trials.
This is the first at-home flu test that will be available in the United States.
This is exciting and much anticipated (and welcomed) news.
BUT…
There are two problems. First, according to USA Today, the at-home flu test (which is already available in Canada) will cost upwards of $70 (per test).
That’s pricy.
And second, Lucira Health has filed for bankruptcy. According to the press release, Lucira Health states —
“We regret that we had no option but to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and that this occurred days before we received regulatory authorization. Unfortunately, we were unable to bridge what became a protracted authorization cycle time within our current capital structure and it remained unclear to us when the regulatory authorization would come through, despite working closely with FDA. The Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Home Test would have been especially useful during the recent, severe respiratory season, and we had produced inventory for an anticipated autumn 2022 launch. We remain confident in the role that the new test can play in future respiratory seasons and are honored to have received the first authorization for such a home test. We appreciate the diligent work of the FDA team as they refined requirements during the review cycle.”
Lucira is looking for a financial partner in order to resume the manufacturing and development of its home diagnostic products.
Price Cuts on (some) Insulin Products
On Wednesday, Eli Lily, the largest manufacturer of insulin, said it would cut the price of several of its older insulin products. This price drop is an effort to lower the cost of insulin for individuals without health insurance or whose health insurance does not fully cover insulin.
Out-of-pocket costs for insulin will be capped at $35 per month.
Nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population has some form of diabetes and ~7.4 million Americans use insulin.
It is important to note — the price drop (which is really great) is only for older products. Eli Lily will continue to charge premium prices for newer insulin products.
Friday — National Day of Unplugging
Tomorrow, March 3rd is the National Day of Unplugging.
It is a day to —
“unplug, reflect, be active, visit the outdoors, and connect with loved ones.”
Did you know that the average American spends 6 hours and 37 minutes per day on their device(s)?
That’s a lot of time looking at a screen.
Tomorrow is a day to celebrate unplugging/getting off of your devices.
Put your screens down and walk away from your computer.
Tomorrow is a day to connect in person. It is a day to get outside for a walk. It is a day to eat lunch with colleagues or outside (away from your computer screen). It is a day to do yoga instead of binge-watching TV. It is a day to get off of social media.
Happy National Day of Unplugging!
What will you be doing tomorrow while unplugged?!?!?
Tomorrow — I plan on unplugging at the end of the workday. I’m going to go to yoga and enjoy a pizza dinner with my son. Then we plan to play cards and make (and eat) ice cream. And I’m going to continue to be unplugged on Saturday — I’m going to watch a soccer game, have dinner with friends, and watch the final performance of Alice In Wonderland performed by the Oil Region Ballet.
The caterpillar and the doors are the best (yes, I am biased).
Do you have questions about at-home flu tests? or the price drop in insulin?
Now if they would just lower the cost of an epi pen.