Price rise for anti-allergy EpiPen sparks furore

Washington

A FIVEFOLD price hike for EpiPen, which allergy sufferers use to counteract life-threatening reactions, has made Mylan the newest drugmaker to come under attack in the United States for profiteering.

Mylan Pharmaceuticals, which holds a near-monopoly position on the epinephrine injectors used by millions against severe allergic attacks, was assailed by two powerful US senators for pumping up the price over six years from US$100 to more than US$500.

That has rendered EpiPens unaffordable to many sufferers - who must replace them each year - and is costing the government huge sums to stock schools with them and fund insurance programmes which p…