|
 The company reduced the out-of-pocket costs of EpiPen for some
patients last week amid a wave of criticism from lawmakers and the
public over the rapid escalation in the product's price in the past
few years.
Mylan said it expected to launch the generic product "in several
weeks" at a list price of $300. The branded product costs about
$600. EpiPen cost about $100 in 2008.
Mylan is the latest company to be caught up in the growing outrage
at apparently egregious drug price increases. Valeant
Pharmaceuticals International Inc <VRX.N> <VRX.TO> and privately
held Turing Pharmaceuticals have both been publicly excoriated for
similar price increases.
EpiPen, which Mylan acquired in 2007, are preloaded injections of
epinephrine (adrenaline) used in case of a dangerous allergic
reaction known as anaphylaxis that could cause death if untreated.
Anaphylaxis can occur in as little as a couple of minutes of
exposure to the allergen, which can come in the form of food such as
peanuts or insects such as bees. Certain medications or latex can
also cause a severe reaction.
Netherlands-based Mylan said it also intends to continue to market
and distribute branded EpiPen.
[to top of second column] |
Mylan's shares were up about 1 percent at $43.53 in premarket
trading. The stock had fallen 12 percent last week.
(Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
