In the allergy community, EpiPens are the topic of conversation. For those who are not aware an EpiPen or epinephrine auto injector, is a medical device for injecting a measured dose of epinephrine (adrenaline), by means of autoinjector technology to treat severe allergy reactions such as anaphylaxis. As the only medication that can potentially reverse anaphylaxis it becomes a necessity to those diagnosed with life threatening allergies. What makes this medication such a topic of conversation?
The price escalation that has occurred over the past few years is causing a uproar across the nation. In 2008, a 2-pack of EpiPens sold for just $100. They have increased the cost by over 400%, making the cost today over $600. EpiPen offers a $0 copay card, but this is only good for up to $300, so for most people it is just a $300 coupon. Now that seems like a good offer from Mylan, but think about it this way. The copay card used to be good for up to $100, but that was how much it used to cost so it was actually subsidizing the cost, but now they have increased the price so much that a $300 limit still only covers roughly half of the cost. Usually a product’s price increases because the product has been redesigned or been improved causing a cost increase due to change in mechanics. Mylan has not changed the mechanics of Epipen in at least ten years, but yet the price has still increased astronomically. According to a medical technology consultant cited by NBC News, "the cost to make an EpiPen is as little as $20 for Mylan to produce, making the price hike even more barbaric."
Mylan CEO, Heather Bresch, has also been getting a significant bonus from the price hike, 19 million to be exact, which is a 671% increase from 2007. Parents who have school-aged children with severe allergies have been hit a lot harder than some others because they need multiple EpiPens; one for school, home, their child’s backpack, and for the parent to carry (sometimes coaches for sports need one too). This could create an out-of-pocket cost that is nearly $2,500 which can be overwhelming cost for low income or uninsured families. A mother interviewed by CNBC, stated, "I took my kids back to visit their old daycare, and the manager there, she said, 'There is a child here with a severe egg allergy, and there is not an EpiPen there because her parents cannot afford to buy a second twin-pack. A child could be on the floor, not able to breathe, in a matter of seconds, because someone can't afford the $600,' she said."
EpiPen has a monopoly on the epinephrine auto injector market, especially since Auvi-Q was taken off the market in 2015 due to malfunctions in delivering the correct dosage of epinephrine. With the retraction of Auvi-Q, EpiPen has customers in the perfect position because they have no choice, but to pay the outrageous price in order to keep themselves or loved ones safe everyday. Fight back they say, but how? We can not boycott because this device is not a choice like Starbucks or which grocery store to shop at, it is essential for someone diagnosed with allergies to have this product.
As an EpiPen carrier myself I have seen first hand the importance of this medication. I was diagnosed with my severe food allergies at age four. Since then I have had quite of a few allergic reactions. Luckily, never needing to use my EpiPen, but one did put me in the hospital and could have warranted the use of an EpiPen, had it been a different type of reaction. Knowing how quickly a situation can go from just eating a nice meal to fighting for your life can be scary to think about. Something as simple as trying a new food can mean a trip to the hospital, if not done appropriately.
This decision is life or death and that just shouldn’t be the case. No parent should have to think about that, but with the price hike for some, it is just something they can not afford. So Heather Bresch, while you are enjoying your multi-million life, think about this -- how many people’s lives across the country are you putting in danger by making this life-saving device in a price range they can not afford?
