Mylan's EpiPen Pricing Scandal

https://sevenpillarsinstitute.org/mylans-epipen-pricing-scandal/

EpiPen: From Monopoly to Multiplicity

https://medical-technology.nridigital.com/medical_technology_apr19/epipen_from_monopoly_to_multiplicity

QUESTIONS:

1. How did Mylan use marketing to increase sales of the EpiPen? Why did Mylan release a generic version of the EpiPen?

2. Discuss Mylan's use of lobbying to increase sales of the EpiPen. What is the estimated marginal cost of producing an EpiPen?

3. What benefits did Mylan receive from the Epipen4Schools program? Why would Mylan misclassify the EpiPen as a generic drug?

4. Between 2007 and 2016, did Mylan have a monopoly for life-saving treatments to anaphylactic reactions? What was their total market share, and how much did this represent in sales? In response to public backlash over the price increases, what concessions did Mylan make?

5. Why was Mylan asked to testify at a congressional committee? What were some of the lawsuits against Mylan?

6. According to Mylan's CEO, what was the reason for the price increase? How does the price of an EpiPen in the United States compare to the prices in other countries?

7. What would be drawbacks to each of these policy changes?

A) Should the United States government try to reduce the monopoly power of the pharmaceutical firms by reforming the patent system?

B) Should the United States government employ price controls in the pharmaceutical field?