Paulsen seeks answers about EpiPen price increases

U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) took aim at the rising cost of EpiPens on Wednesday in a letter to the CEO of Mylan, a manufacturer of the devices.

In a letter to Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, Paulsen wrote that numerous residents of Minnesota have voiced concerns about the recent price increases for EpiPens that could lead to loss of access to the life-saving devices.

“While I recognize that it takes billions of dollars in research and development to create innovative drugs and medical technology, this must be balanced with the need to ensure patient access to life-saving technology,” Paulsen, the co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus, wrote. “Competition in the market is an essential component of ensuring lower costs. I am concerned that Mylan’s price increase reflects an attempt to take advantage of a lack of competition, due to a recall of its main competitor in the marketplace.”

Paulsen noted reports that the price of Mylan’s generic auto-injector EpiPens has increased 400 percent since 2008 to a cost of more than $500.

“For parents that have to buy multiple EpiPens every year, this price increase could make it prohibitively expensive to ensure their child has access to the device,” Paulsen wrote.

Paulsen requested that Bresch address concerns raised by his constituents about the price increases and that she makes resources and assistance available to those who cannot afford the live-saving devices.