If Forest Howland ever took an antibiotic without knowing its chemical properties, he would immediately be at risk of going into anaphylactic shock.
Howland, a sophomore studying communication, has a severe allergy to certain antibiotic groups, and he is one of many students who need EpiPens to counter the possibility of shock.
But those devices, which auto-inject the drug epinephrine, have become increasingly hard to afford because of their rising.
“EpiPens are lifesaving, especially for people with serious allergies,” Dr. James Gaskell, health commissioner of the Athens City-County Health Department, said. “People can have serious problems breathing and die from anaphylactic shock, and there are a significant number of people with allergies.”
The drug company that owns EpiPen, Mylan, has been raising prices for years to maximize profits in anticipation of a generic competitor, The New York Times reported. However, the Food and Drug Administration blocked the expected generic product by Teva Pharmaceutical earlier this year.
Pricing for EpiPens vary based on insurance coverage. Under the university’s student health insurance, there is a $20 co-pay for a one-month supply of EpiPens at Campus Care in Hudson Health Center.
The price for a pair of EpiPens, which started at about $100 when Mylan bought the rights to the brand in 2007, now has a list price of more than $600. EpiPens also expire after about a year, so even if patients do not use them, they still have to be replaced.
“Mylan just outrageously increased the price, and it is a big issue,” Gaskell said. “In doctors’ offices, we have epinephrine in vials with syringes and do not bother buying EpiPens because they are too pricey. But we have trained professionals to administer the drug — you can’t ask families to do that in an emergency.”
Bethany Ungar, a freshman studying business, said having at least two pairs of EpiPens is a requirement for her. Ungar had allergic reactions in the past, but she is not sure to what exactly she is allergic.
“I’m supposed to have at least two with me at all times because I never know when I will have a reaction,” she said.
Ungar said the high price could be a detractor from patients who need to buy them.
“The price could definitely be a determining factor in how many EpiPens I buy and how often I buy them,” she said.
Howland believes the high prices can be an issue for many families.
“Personally, I haven’t been affected by the pricing, but that’s because I come from a middle-class, working American family,” he said. “But I would imagine they can be very hard for a lot of people to afford.”
Though Mylan offers financial assistance to some families to help cover the cost of EpiPens, criticism continues from those who want Mylan to reform prices across the board. Their current programs force the health system to pay the remaining balance through insurers and the federal government.
“They have to be easily available, and school systems also have to have EpiPens on hand for students in class who may not have them,” Gaskell said.
Mylan has now introduced a plan to release a generic version of the EpiPen in response to the growing discussion. Though the generic price — $300 for a pair — is still more than when the device was introduced, it may help appease critics.
According to a statement by Mylan, the generic version “will be identical to the branded product, including device functionality and drug formulation."
The move could allow Mylan to dominate the market for both the brand and generic product.
“I think the most important thing is a cheaper generic option,” Howland said. “It will help me and a lot of other students, who are just trying to pay for school.”
