But since Mylan acquired EpiPen in 2007, the price for the auto-injectors has increased 480%, and prompted a nationwide debate on whether the company, and the chief executive officer, Heather Bresch, who made almost $19 million in salary and stock options previous year (along with perks like personal use of the company jet and a vehicle allowance), have been price gouging on the life-saving device which has a more than 90% market share.
Advertisement
Heitkamp on Thursday said families should not have to choose “between sending a child to school with a lifesaving EpiPen and putting food on the table”. Multiple lawmakers and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke out against the fivefold increase in the cost of an EpiPen since 2008.
According to the Elsevier Clinical Solutions’ Gold Standard Drug Database, a two-dose package that cost around $94 nine years ago has risen more than 500 percent to an average cost of $608 in May. Manchin’s daughter, CEO Heather Bresch, went from a $2.4 million yearly salary to $18.9 million. It doubled the limit for eligibility for its patient assistance program, so a family of four making up to $97,200 would pay nothing out of pocket.
Mr. Blumenthal has called for congressional investigations and asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into whether the company has engaged in unfair trade practices.
EpiPens are used in emergencies to treat severe allergies that can lead to anaphylactic shock. If their insurance policy has a high deductible that has not been met, patients might have to pay the full price for EpiPen. Those who pay full price will get $300 off.
Patients also will be able to order the injected medicine directly from the company, to help lower costs. Even so, they don’t require Mylan to push up prices at the rate at which it has been doing so.
EpiPen epinephrine auto-injectors are products of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which is now in the crosshairs of Congress over extreme price hikes for the life-saving drug. This episode does more to expose flaws than fix them. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, penned their own letters expressing concerns over the prices. Sen. She added that whatever minor improvements Mylan has made to the product could in no way justify a 600 percent increase in price, according to The Associated Press. He’s allergic to eggs and all nuts.
Advertisement
For Myers, having to go without EpiPens makes many recreational activities a risk, especially when she ventures out away from her son, and says she’ll more than likely be calling 911 if she needs an EpiPen and doesn’t have one. “I will bet her her $19 million salary that I am more frustrated than her”.
