Mylan Case Study

“Mylan implemented double-digit price hikes for the EpiPen every other quarter,” as schools bought the EpiPens truckload after truckload (Cahill 2). Schools are now feeling the budgetary effects due to the skyrocketing costs of EpiPens. The ones who fund these programs are again, taxpayers. Mylan does offer a program that provides free EpiPens to U.S. schools. The program is called EpiPen4Schools. On the Mylan website, it states that “more than 700,000 free EpiPen Auto-Injectors have begun distribution, and more than 65,000 schools, approximately half of all U.S. schools, have participated” (Erb 3). Mylan now allows 48 states to have undesignated EpiPens in their schools.

With the price inflations of EpiPens still rising, consumers look towards

Generic versions that are offered include Mylan’s own version of their EpiPen, Adrenaclick, Auvi-Q, and the syringe and vial method. Mylan’s generic EpiPen is known as an authorized generic which can be defined as “a brand-named prescription drug - already approved as a New Drug Application by the FDA - marketed as a generic under a private label” (Pollack 2). This new version will have a price around $300.00 per two-pack, half of the price of the name-brand version. Although this price is half the name-brand, “it would still be considered triple the amount of the original listing price back in 2007” (Drake 2). Another generic to consider is Adrenaclick. Adrenaclick is like that of the EpiPen in the sense that it is also an auto-injector device. The device can be found at Sam’s Club and Walmart. With coupons, Adrenaclick is around $142.00. This device contains the same drug as EpiPens, but does not function or have the same technology. This alternative is accessible and affordable to consumers and also includes the same dosages as Mylan’s EpiPen. Auvi-Q was first approved in 2012 but recently has been recalled. The company marketing the product has since returned rights and does not

Depending on which insurance consumers have can affect how much out of cost or co-payments consumers will have to pay. Insurance can cover either a large portion of the cost of prescriptions or eliminate the $200.00 co-payment that EpiPens require. Some insurances may be able to perform both. Adam Fein, president of the Pembroke Consulting, states that “some insurers may have negotiated deals with Mylan that end up making the brand-name cheaper than the generic” (Drake 3). If this is the case, some insurances would rather have consumers purchase the name-brand version of the EpiPen rather than the generic version that is offered. Mylan Pharmaceuticals offers a coupon that takes off up to $100.00 per prescription. This coupon is limited to only three prescriptions of two-pack cartons, however. This would leave the total of the EpiPens to $500.00 before taxes. Mylan Pharmaceuticals also offers the Mylan’s Patient Assistance Program which “allows patients, whom are without insurance, eligibility to apply for free EpiPens” (Drake 5). Mylan Pharmaceuticals now offers no-copayment fees to those who use a savings card provided by Mylan when purchasing the name-brand