Congresswoman Urges Mylan to Lower Costs of Life-Saving EpiPens

U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to Mylan Chief Executive Officer Heather Bresch, expressing concern over the skyrocketing cost of EpiPens.

“According to various news accounts, the price of EpiPen has increased 400 percent since 2007. Such a dramatic increase in the cost of live-saving medication is of tremendous concern,” wrote Lowey. “Food allergies, which often require immediate medical intervention, affect an estimated 15 million Americans, including one in every 13 children.”

The company, and in particular the CEO, have been in a firestorm of criticism in recent days, as news reports surfaced about constant, massive EpiPen price hikes — from about $50 in 2004 to $300-plus today, according to Slate.com.

That's at the same time that Bresch upped her own salary by 671 percent, according to Forbes.

Bresch (the daughter of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin) was the company's lobbyist, and according to news reports was highly successful both as lobbyist and CEO in getting legislation passed promoting EpiPen use. For example, in 2014, New York passed a law authorizing schools to stock and administer EpiPens to any student in an emergency even if the student doesn’t have a prescription.

Access to EpiPens remains as critical now as ever, particularly ahead of a new school year, Lowey said.

Mylan's stock began to drop as the criticism mounted. The company announced Thursday that it would offer a half-off coupon to low-income families, according to the New York Daily News. That would bring the price down to about $300 for a two-pack of the one-use device for some people.

The full text of Lowey's letter can be found here.

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