Hillary Clinton on EpiPen Price Gouging
Today, Hillary Clinton issued the following statement on Mylan Pharmaceuticals and their recent price hike on EpiPens:
“Millions
of Americans with severe allergies rely on their EpiPens. When an
allergic reaction leads to anaphylactic shock, a shot of epinephrine can
literally be the difference between life and death. But now, just as
parents are about to send kids with severe food and insect allergies
back to school, the EpiPen’s manufacturer is hiking its price 2016to an
all-time high.
“Over the last several years, Mylan Pharmaceuticals
has increased the price of EpiPens by more than 400%. 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.
“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.
“That’s why I’ve put forward a plan to
address exorbitant drug price hikes like these. As part of my plan,
I’ve made clear that pharmaceutical manufacturers should be required to
explain significant price increases, and prove that any additional costs
are linked to additional patient benefits and better value. Since
there is no apparent justification in this case, I am calling on Mylan
to immediately reduce the price of EpiPens.
“In addition, when it
comes to treatments like delivering epinephrine that have been available
for decades, my plan encourages the production of alternative
products. That’s how we can harness the power of competition to keep
drug prices at a level that all Americans can afford.”
