HRC Calls on NY Attorney General to Investigate Turing Pharmaceuticals’ Exploitative Price Gouging
Today, the Human Rights Campaign, (HRC), America's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organisation sent a letter to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman asking him to investigate recent actions by New York-based Turing Pharmaceuticals to increase the price of the drug Daraprim (pyrimethamine) by 5000 percent.
“The burden of this unjustified and unprecedented cost will undoubtedly be shouldered by the most vulnerable members of our community — including people living with HIV and pregnant women,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “A thorough investigation is needed to determine whether the irresponsible and shameless price increases by Turing Pharmaceuticals is consistent with New York state law.”
NBC News reported yesterday that Martin Shkreli, CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, said he will lower the price of Daraprim, but has not specified what the new price will be.
Griffin added, “The world is watching. Those whose lives hang in the balance deserve to know: what will the price of Daraprim betomorrow?”
The Huffington Post reported late yesterday that Shkreli is already involved in a federal criminal investigation dating back to his work with a prior biotechnology company that he founded.