U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) took aim at the rising cost of EpiPens on Wednesday in a letter to the CEO of Mylan, a manufacturer of the devices.
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U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has joined the growing chorus blasting pharmaceutical giant Mylan over the skyrocketing cost of EpiPens, calling on the company to immediately lower the price of the life-saving medication.
The price of the two-dose package topped $600 earlier this year, up from about $94 just nine years ago according to a price-tracking database.
“The epinephrine auto-injector is a vital part of our family’s healthcare, as it is for the many who are at risk”, she wrote. Mylan announced Thursday plans to cover up to $300 of out-of-pocket pharmacy cost through the use of a savings card, reducing patient cost by 50 percent.
Some lawmakers say that won’t cut it, and it’s time for drug pricing reform. “Everybody should be frustrated”.
Nearly immediately, critics assailed Mylan’s discount announcement, saying the list price isn’t changing and that ultimately consumers will bear most of the costs.
Heather Bresch says “Here’s the perverse thing – had we reduced the list price I couldn’t ensure that everyone who needs an EpiPen gets one, so we went around the system”.
“The announcement today doesn’t appear to change the product price”, Sen.
After these announcements, Wells Fargo stated that the steps Mylan has chose to take to boost EpiPen’s use and affordability is good, but not enough to address the issues raised by the Senate and the patients’ parents.
A drug company blasted for raising the price of a life-saving drug is responding to the outcry. “Nobody is buying this PR move any more”.
“Call your member of Congress because I for years have been trying to get some bills passed that would bring more competition to not only the EpiPen market but to all pharmaceutical markets”, said Klobuchar.
The latest outraged parent is actress Sarah Jessica Parker, who had been involved in a Mylan initiative to raise awareness for anaphylaxis.
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Shares in Mylan were up almost 2 percent in mid-morning trade at $43.90 on the Nasdaq in NY after losing almost 11 percent over two sessions after the furor broke out over EpiPen.
