Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS) received FDA approval Wednesday for a redesigned, compact carrying case for its over-the-counter (OTC) NARCAN® Nasal Spray, a move aimed at overcoming the "stigma of carrying" that has long hampered community-level overdose responses.
The new case, which holds two blister-packed doses and a Quick Start Guide, targets a glaring gap in public health: while Emergent has distributed more than 85 million doses since 2016, company data shows that only 10% of consumers currently carry the life-saving medication on their person.
The approval comes after a consumer survey revealed that 74% of adults—and 81% of college students—would be more likely to carry the spray if the packaging were more discreet and portable.
The supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) approval reflects a strategic shift toward normalizing naloxone as a standard "safety kit" item, similar to an EpiPen or a first-aid bandage.
With 2025 data from the American Medical Association (AMA) showing that nearly 75,000 Americans are still lost annually to opioid-related overdoses—largely driven by illicit fentanyl—public health officials have stressed that accessibility is only half the battle; the medicine must be present at the scene of the emergency to be effective.