People with allergies could use several EpiPens throughout the year, storing them at their homes, schools, and other areas they stay.
Advertisement
Adrienne Stick Butler’s 10 year-old daughter, Maya, has multiple food allergies, and has six EpiPens.
“I’m not paying 500 dollars for a prescription that past year, didn’t cost me anything”, Nicole Smith, an EpiPen customer said. Patients have to refill the prescription annually because the pens expire after one year, which means they have to fork over a hefty copay each time.
Because of aggressive marketing and branding campaigns, and lobbying for legislation that requires the product to be stocked in schools, they have a brand dominance equal to that of Kleenex, doctors say.
Allergists are concerned that this spike may cause people to not fill all their EpiPen prescriptions which can get risky. Almost 40% of those youngsters have had a severe allergic reaction. The needle inside injects the epinephrine into muscle tissue.
It would appear that move paid off, as in 2010 the FDA changed a recommendation that the company ship the pens two-to-a-box to just one per box.
Senator Amy Klobuchar is calling for a federal investigation into the pharmaceutical company.
These devices are used in emergencies to treat anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can make people go into shock, struggle to breathe, or get a skin rash.
In an exclusive interview with FOX Business Network’s Countdown to the Closing Bell, Allergy Kids Foundation Founder Robyn O’Brien said Mylan is taking advantage of a growing epidemic of people with food allergies. “This shift has presented new challenges for consumers, and they are bearing more of the cost”, Mylan said.
Mylan says the price “has changed over time to better reflect important product features and the value the product provides”. Experts say company executives should prepare to answer more questions from Capitol Hill in weeks to come. Auvi-Q, sold by Sanofi, was taken off the market in October 2015 because some devices weren’t dispensing the proper amount of medication.
One EpiPen used to cost around $100, and could be gotten for free with a coupon.
Shkreli said he considered gradual price increases with Darapim, but ultimately, “the math, we felt, was a little silly; so we made a decision to come out and say ‘This is our desired price'”. To start with, senators have already sent Mylan a letter to explain how they determine the price.
Advertisement
Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., on Tuesday asked the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to hold a hearing on the high cost of EpiPens.
