Intermediate Strengths and Inflated Prices: The Story of Transdermal Fentanyl Patches

In 2015, Mylan pharmaceuticals received final approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its Supplemental Abbreviated New Drug Application and introduced three new intermediate strengths of transdermal fentanyl patches to the U.S. drug market.1 With this approval, Mylan added 37.5 , 62.5, and 87.5 mcg/hr strength patches to existing 12, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mcg/hr strength patches. Today, these intermediate strength patches cost many times more than older strengths. In this commentary, we discuss the clinical implications of intermediate strengths of the fentanyl patch, explore mechanisms for price differences, and offer practice-based and policy solutions to address these differences.