The EpiPen controversy does not look like it’s going to die anytime soon. The most recent development is that 20 US senators have voiced their worries to the chief executive of Mylan NV about the exorbitant cost. They have called it “exorbitantly expensive.”
As the senators wrote, “Insurance companies, the government and employers still bear the burden of these excessive prices. In turn, those costs are eventually passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums.”
Mylan has said they plan to launch the first generic version of the EpiPen for $300, which is half of the price of the branded product. This is their second step to try to counter the backlash they’ve received for their pricing.
In response to the recent letter, Mylan spokeswoman Lauren Kashtan said “We have acknowledged receipt of letters from congressional offices and intend to respond to them.”
Mylan has defended their high price, explaining that they spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to improve the produce since they acquired it in 2007.
Signatories on the letter include Senator Patrick Leahy, Barbara Boxer, Dick Durbin, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sherrod Brown and others.