ALBANY, N.Y. -- Following recent pressure from addiction services organizations, the New York state Department of Health appears to be open to purchasing other brands of opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone besides the most well-known, Narcan.

However, that likely won't happen until at least next year. The DOH confirmed Thursday it will opt in to another year of the current $21 million contract with pharmaceutical subsidiary Emergent Devices.

The department said it believes the 4mg dosage of Narcan sold by Emergent remains the most effective and affordable brand of naloxone that "comes in FDA-preferred dosage levels." Addiction services advocates argue the FDA has issued no preference between the various forms of naloxone it has approved despite the state’s repeated claim. However, the DOH noted the landscape has changed in the last two years and there are now multiple companies that manufacture and sell 4mg nasal spray doses, allowed to be dispensed without a prescription under the state's current standing order.

As a result, the DOH said it is considering opening up procurement next year to a competitive bid process to ensure the state gets the "most appropriate product at the best price." Earlier this month, advocates sent letters to the governor and the state comptroller asking them to open up the process when the current Emergent contract expired at the end of July.

However, the state said it is renewing for another year in order to make sure the counties and organizations it provides with Narcan do not face a shortage in the interim. State lawmakers considered legislation to amend the standing order this year to allow for different dosage levels and other federally approved reversal drugs.

The measure passed the state Assembly but failed to reach a floor vote in the Senate.