FDA's Approval of Over-the-Counter Narcan Brings Hope for Saving Lives.

The FDA has approved an over-the-counter version of Narcan, a nasal spray formulation of naloxone, a highly effective, fast-acting treatment for opioid overdoses. Emergent BioSolutions, the creators of Narcan, announced that it would take until late summer for Narcan to be sold in stores and online retailers. The potential cost of OTC Narcan remains unknown, but advocates have criticized the higher list prices of Narcan relative to other formulations of naloxone. Harm Reduction Therapeutics has also applied for approval of their OTC naloxone nasal spray called RiVive, which was granted priority review by the FDA last December.