For the last few years, Michael Laufer, a so-called “biohacker,” has been on a mission to tackle the high cost of pharmaceuticals. His method? Help patients make their own drugs.
Last year, Laufer and his group, Four Thieves Vinegar, grabbed headlines when they released instructions for DIY EpiPens that can be made for just over $30. The price for Mylan’s EpiPen, which saves users from anaphylactic shock, has risen 15 times since 2009 and is now about $600 for a two-pack.
Laufer recently told Stat that he now plans to release instructions for making an “Apothecary Microlab” — a general-use chemical reactor that can be assembled using materials available online that cost around $100. He also wants to publish a book of recipes for certain drugs.
Another medication Laufer has been able to cook up is Sovaldi, which is offered by Gilead Science for about $84,000 to cure hepatitis C. Laufer’s concoction instead costs about $800 to make.
Because Laufer is not actually distributing homemade medicines, he has so far escaped scrutiny by the U.S. Food And Drug Administration.
Laufer says it’s also unclear if anyone has tried to make a DIY EpiPen — thus far, no one has posted about it online. And he admits that very few people would attempt to make DIY pharmaceuticals given the risks of contamination or overdose. Ultimately, his project is aimed at either lower income and desperate patients, or techno geeks willing to tinker with the chemistry.
But he says his goal is less about making the movement mainstream and is more about empowering those who need the help.
When asked how he feels about the fact that big pharmaceutical companies have also ignored him so far, Laufer says that he doesn’t think he’s a big enough threat just yet — but he plans to “keep trying.”
