Xopenex Available to IHS at Special Pricing!

May 09, 2006 - In an effort to combat the albuterol shortage, the IHS National Supply Service Center (NSSC), on behalf of the Agency, asked the VA for inclusion on a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for the drug Xopenex (levalbuterol tartrate) HFA Inhaler by Sepracor. All Pharmacy Prime Vendor users (IHS, Tribal, and Urban facilities) are eligible for the Xopenex BPA price. The BPA price has the potential to decrease as Market Share increases. Product and NDC information for the product are below and is now loaded onto the McKesson website.

NDC
 63402-0510-01
 Prev NDC
 NDC Effective Date
 09-Nov-2005

UPC
 3-63402-51001
 Prev UPC
 UPC Effective Date
 09-Nov-2005

Drop-Ship
 Preferred
 No
 Drug Sched
 6

Gen Code
 24422-LEVALBUTEROL TARTRATE
 Generic Sequence #
 58890
 RXDA
 R

Thera Cat
 121208
 Form
 AER W/ADAP
 Strength
 45MCG

Mfg
 SEPRACOR INC
 Mfg Size
 1.0
 Mfg Unit
 EACH

Pkg Size
 15
 Pkg Size Multiplier
 1.00
 Disp Code

Case Qty
 72
 Order UOM
 EA
 Std MOQ
 1

The NSSC has received many phone calls regarding albuterol MDI’s availability and allocation. The shortage is due to the lack of availability of the CFC propellant used for the inhalers and the FDA mandated transition to HFA inhalers by December 2008. The shortage has affected both CFC and HFA albuterol inhalers from all manufacturers and has forced an allocation.

The number of CFC albuterol MDI’s at the national contract price are very hard to come by and will eventually be unavailable. As production of the HFA inhalers catches up with demand, the price of albuterol may come down. The implementation of the Xopenex BPA will help combat the shortage and inflated prices of Albuterol until that occurs (if it does).

The NSSC is being told that there is enough of the Xopenex at the McKesson Distribution Centers. PPV facilities with questions regarding the availability of Xopenex may contact McKesson Service First or you may call the National Supply Service Center (888-948-1415 ext. 118).