Over the last few years, the cost of an EpiPen has gone from roughly 400%, from $57 dollars to roughly $500. If Bresch, the CEO of Mylan NV, is forced to justify her company’s decision, she will be among a familiar face since her father is Democratic Sen.
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However, the media seems to have only recently caught on to the fact that Mylan’s CEO, Heather Bresch, is the daughter of Senator Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.). Mylan Pharmaceuticals, who produces and sells the drug, says it has given 700,000 free EpiPens to schools and coupons to families unable to pay for the medication.
Clinton echoed the concern, saying the price increase is “outrageous”, according to The Hill.
Drug maker Mylan increased the cost from an average of $103 in 2009 to more than $600 this year.
Klobuchar called on the Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing and for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate.
“I think the drug company is taking advantage of a monopoly, and I think it’s terribly unfortunate that it’s hurting patients’ health; it’s putting them at risk for death”, said Dr. Sullivan. Minutes after Clinton released her statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that “greedy” pharmaceutical companies which jack up costs “often do real damage to their reputation” during a media briefing (while declining to “second guess” Mylan’s specific pricing strategies).
This could make things pretty awkward in the U.S. Senate, where several of Manchin’s colleagues are demanding answers from Mylan regarding the soaring price of EpiPens. They are the most used and most well known of treatment options.
Posters on social media have expressed their disgust and disappointment with Mylan and its executives.
“We have reached out to every member of Congress who has sent us a letter, and we look forward to meeting with them and responding to their questions as soon as possible”, Devlin said.
That’s how the drug has become a cash cow for Mylan, which previous year moved its headquarters from the U.S.to the Netherlands.
She has seen her salary increase from $2.4 million since 2007 to $18.9 million a year ago, according to NBC.
Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley wrote the company that manufactures the devices, and asked for more information on why the prices have increased.
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“With the current changes in the healthcare insurance landscape, an increasing number of people and families have enrolled in high deductible health plans, and deductible amounts continue to rise”. We recognize the significant burden on patients from continued, rising insurance premiums and being forced increasingly to pay the full list price for medicines at the pharmacy counter.
