title: Aerosolized ribavirin: the most expensive drug for pneumonia.
abstract: Dramatic, overnight cost increases of important orphan and generic medications have recently come under public and government scrutiny. We highlight the case of aerosolized ribavirin, an important antiviral agent in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation which, because of substantial price increases, may now cost more than the transplant procedure itself.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Chemaly
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.|School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Boeckh
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D016527:Drug Costs; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000941:ethics; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004469:Economics, Hospital / Q000941:ethics; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009965:Orphan Drug Production / Q000191:economics*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D012254:Ribavirin
keywords: average wholesale price; cost; hematologic malignancy; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; pediatrics; respiratory syncytial virus