California drug manufacturer Amphastar Pharmaceutics, which makes the medication used to reverse heroin and opioid overdoses, has agreed to provide Connecticut with a $6 rebate for every dose of nalaxone, also known as Narcan, that is purchased by a state or municipal agency between March 2016 and March 2017.

Attorney General George Jepsen sent the company's chief executive officer a letter in September 2015 questioning why its price for naloxone had recently increased unexpectedly, according to a press release from Jepsen and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. The retail price ranges from $33 to $60 per dose. Jepsen asked to explore pricing options in light of fiscal constraints and the need for access to the life-saving drug. Amphastar has maintained that its pricing of naloxone is based on legitimate and lawful business factors.

The agreement provides a $6 per-dose rebate for the purchase of naloxone either directly from Amphastar or from a third party. Amphastar has pledged not to increase its wholesale cost per dose of naloxone for a period of one year or the rebate amount will be increased as well. Amphastar has reached similar agreements with other states, including New York, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Malloy and Jepsen also announced that the state Department of Public Health will receive a donation of 500 doses of Evzio® (naloxone hydrochloride) auto-injectors from Virginia-based pharmaceutical company Kaléo Inc. The public health department will distribute the auto-injectors to the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Correction and certain community naloxone distribution programs, known as OPEN Access CT.

In recent years, with increases in heroin and prescription opioid overdoses, Connecticut has enacted new laws increasing the drug's availability to law enforcement, first responders and others.