Imprimis Pharmaceuticals | MKO Melt
Imprimis is on a mission to save health care
billions of dollars by marketing low-
cost therapeutics that have the same
essential efficacy as much more
expensive products. Sure the company
makes money, but it's not trying to gouge
physicians and patients. I respect that.
At this year's show, Imprimis introduced
MKO Melt, a sublingual IV-free sedation alterna-
tive. Patients place 1 to 2 of the small tablets
under the tongue, where the midazolam, ketamine
and ondansetron compound (the MKO in the product's name) dis-
solves into the bloodstream in a matter of minutes. A company rep
says Melt's sedative effect is more consistent than IV sedation and
leaves the bloodstream in a couple hours, which helps speed recov-
eries and improve OR efficiencies. The rep also says several eye
facilities have used Melt to go IV-free and say it has made the patient
experience much more enjoyable. There's definitely a market for this
form of sedation in cataract surgery, even for facilities that can't or
don't want to eliminate IVs altogether. There are always patients in
whom starting a line is difficult, if not impossible — elderly cancer
patients, for example. For those patients, the anesthesia provider
might titrate Xanax or sublingual Versed to an effective dose. Using
Melt in those instances would provide a more consistent dose and
predictable results. I think keeping a stock of these tablets on the
shelf in case you can't start an IV would be useful. Imprimis says
Melt costs $25 for a 2-Trokie dose, which is the most you'd need to
sedate a patient.
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