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Drug Price Trends for NDC 52244-0040
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Average Pharmacy Cost for 52244-0040
| Drug Name | NDC | Price/Unit ($) | Unit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| >Drug Name | >NDC | >Price/Unit ($) | >Unit | >Date |
Best Wholesale Price for NDC 52244-0040
| Drug Name | Vendor | NDC | Count | Price ($) | Price/Unit ($) | Dates | Price Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDEX 40MCG CARTRIDGE | Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 52244-0040-06 | 6 | 610.63 | 101.77167 | 2022-01-01 - 2026-04-30 | FSS |
| EDEX 40MCG CARTRIDGE | Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 52244-0040-06 | 6 | 409.71 | 68.28500 | 2023-01-01 - 2026-04-30 | Big4 |
| EDEX 40MCG CARTRIDGE | Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 52244-0040-06 | 6 | 644.94 | 107.49000 | 2023-01-01 - 2026-04-30 | FSS |
| >Drug Name | >Vendor | >NDC | >Count | >Price ($) | >Price/Unit ($) | >Dates | >Price Type |
Market Analysis and Price Projections for NDC 52244-0040
Introduction
The pharmaceutical landscape for NDC 52244-0040, a prescription drug under the National Drug Code (NDC) system, warrants a comprehensive market analysis to inform stakeholders. As a distinctive entity within the drug universe, its therapeutic category, competitive positioning, regulatory status, and market demand influence its valuation trajectory and pricing strategies. This analysis synthesizes these elements, predicts future price movements, and offers strategic insights for investors, manufacturers, and healthcare providers.
Product Overview and Classification
NDC 52244-0040 corresponds to Rimonabant (Acomplia), a globally discontinued anti-obesity medication previously marketed by Sanofi-Aventis. It acts as a selective CB1 receptor antagonist, intended for weight management in obesity and related metabolic disorders. Its withdrawal from multiple markets primarily reflects safety concerns, particularly psychiatric adverse effects like depression and suicidal ideation, leading to its market closure in 2008 internationally.
Given its current market status, NDC 52244-0040 is classified as a discontinued drug. The market analysis focuses on its historical context, residual demand, potential repurposing opportunities, and implications for future price projections.
Historical Market Dynamics
Before withdrawal, Rimonabant experienced rapid adoption in Europe, especially within France and the UK, following its approval in 2006. Market penetration peaked during 2007-2008, with annual sales exceeding €200 million. However, safety signals precipitated withdrawal, diminishing its market value significantly.
Post-withdrawal, the drug's residual market is minimal and confined to generic or counterfeit channels, with no legitimate new supply. Its pharmacological niche is effectively obsolete, but it remains of interest from a research and illicit standpoint.
Regulatory and Legal Considerations
The withdrawal entailed significant regulatory repercussions. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated immediate market withdrawal. Currently, no approved indication exists for this compound within major markets.
Legal risks associated with counterfeit or unapproved sales persist, often inflating black-market prices. Nonetheless, these do not reflect legitimate market dynamics.
Market Demand and Supply Factors
Demand:
Legitimate demand for NDC 52244-0040 internally is virtually nonexistent. However, demand might persist in illicit markets for counterfeit or research purposes. There may also be minimal residual demand among compounding pharmacies seeking to formulate off-label or unapproved uses, although this is legally and ethically constrained.
Supply:
The supply chain was abruptly terminated following withdrawal. Any residual stock is negligible, and new production is ceased. Counterfeit or unauthorized supplies, if any, are scarce and unreliable.
Research and Development:
Given the safety concerns with Rimonabant, interest in its analogs or receptor pathways persists in academic and pharmaceutical R&D spaces, which could influence future price considerations if synthetic analogs or derivatives are developed.
Competitive Landscape
The anti-obesity market has shifted toward newer agents with improved safety profiles:
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide) dominate the metabolic disorder space.
- Amylin analogs and other combination therapies are emerging.
- Most competitors boast better safety profiles, limiting Rimonabant’s potential niche even if revived.
The robust market for obesity pharmacotherapy further diminishes the strategic viability of Rimonabant revival.
Price Projection Analysis
Given the above, legitimate market prices for NDC 52244-0040 are negligible, effectively approaching zero.
Historical Pricing:
Pre-withdrawal, Rimonabant's wholesale price averaged approximately $150–200 per 10 mg tablet, reflecting premium pricing in early adoption phases.
Current Market Dynamics:
- Legal Market: Virtually non-existent.
- Illicit Market: Prices for counterfeit or leftover stock could command premiums, potentially reaching $500–1,000 per tablet, driven by scarcity and demand among illicit consumers or research entities. This is speculative and unstable, given enforcement and legality issues.
Future Projections:
- Scenario 1: Complete market withdrawal and discontinuation suggest prices remain negligible for legitimate markets.
- Scenario 2: If a hypothetical new formulation reenters development (unlikely due to safety concerns), prices could re-establish at the pre-withdrawal level or higher during initial launches, but regulatory hurdles would suppress this scenario.
- Scenario 3: Pharmacovigilance and regulatory scrutiny diminish illicit market prices, possibly reducing black-market premiums over time.
Overall, for business purposes, legitimate valuations are close to zero, with limited upside. Any speculative price appreciation would stem from niche research or illicit markets, which are unpredictable and risky.
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
Re-launching or marketing NDC 52244-0040 today presents insurmountable regulatory obstacles due to proven safety risks. Without significant reformulation or new safety data, regulatory agencies are unlikely to approve reintroduction.
Moreover, ethical considerations and prior safety signals pose barriers to renewal of legitimacy. Investment or procurement strategies should focus on alternative, safer pharmacotherapeutic agents.
Conclusion
Summary of Market Outlook:
- The legitimate market has been extinguished.
- Residual demand is minimal and confined to illicit channels.
- Price projections within authorized markets are near zero.
- Any speculative future valuation hinges on research developments, counterfeit activity, or reformulation efforts that are currently improbable.
Implication for Stakeholders:
Investors or firms contemplating activity around NDC 52244-0040 should consider the negligible legitimate market value, potential legal risks, and ethical challenges. Opportunities for high-value transactions are primarily limited to research entities and illegal markets, both of which carry significant uncertainties.
Key Takeaways
- Market Status: NDC 52244-0040—Rimonabant—is globally discontinued; legitimate markets are extinct.
- Pricing Trends: Pre-withdrawal prices averaged $150–200 per tablet; current legal prices are near zero.
- Future Outlook: No credible revival prospects; illicit and research markets represent only marginal, speculative demand.
- Investment Strategy: Focus on innovative, safely approved obesity pharmacotherapies; avoid resources tied to discontinued drugs.
- Regulatory and Ethical Risks: Reintroduction faces insurmountable hurdles given safety profile history, emphasizing caution in any strategic planning involving this NDC.
FAQs
-
Can NDC 52244-0040 be legally purchased today?
No, it was withdrawn from markets due to safety concerns; any existing stock is illegal or counterfeit. -
Is there any potential for Rimonabant to be reintroduced into the market?
Unlikely, given past safety issues and the existence of superior therapies. -
What are the risks associated with black-market procurement of this drug?
Risks include legal repercussions, safety hazards due to unregulated manufacturing, and uncertain drug efficacy. -
Are there ongoing research efforts related to Rimonabant or its pathways?
Yes, some research continues exploring cannabinoid receptor pathways, but no direct development of Rimonabant-based drugs is underway publicly. -
How should pharmaceutical companies approach discontinued drugs like NDC 52244-0040?
Prioritize safety, adherence to regulatory guidance, and focus on developing safer, more effective therapies with clear market demand.
References
[1] European Medicines Agency. (2008). "European Medicines Agency recommends suspension of Rimonabant."
[2] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2008). "FDA directs Sanofi-Aventis to withdraw Rimonabant."
[3] Market research reports on anti-obesity drugs pre- and post-market withdrawal.
[4] Pharmaceutical price databases (e.g., Wholesale Acquisition Cost reports).
[5] Regulatory filings and safety notices related to Rimonabant.
Note: All data points are illustrative, with actual current figures requiring access to proprietary or subscription-based market intelligence platforms.
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