Hillary Clinton on Wednesday slammed the drug company Mylan Pharmaceuticals for its recent massive price hikes on EpiPens, charging that the firm is gouging consumers and is putting profit ahead of patients’ health.
In a statement, the Democratic presidential nominee called on the company to immediately lower the price of the drug, which has gone up by more than 400 percent over the past half decade. Mylan has yet to explain the reasons behind the price hike.
“They’re now charging up to $600 for a two-EpiPen set that must be replaced every 12 - 18 months. This both increases out-of-pocket costs for families and first responders, and contributes to higher premiums for all Americans and their employers,” Mrs. Clinton said in a statement. “That’s outrageous - and it’s just the latest troubling example of a company taking advantage of its consumers. I believe that our pharmaceutical and biotech industries can be an incredible source of American innovation, giving us revolutionary treatments for debilitating diseases. But it’s wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them.”
Epi-Pens are used to treat patients with severe allergies and usually are administered to counter anaphylactic shock.
The drug reportedly cost just over $100 in 2009 but now clocks in at about $608.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.
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