Mylan, the company that makes the EpiPen, has been under fire for making the drug too expensive for many consumers.
EpiPen is an auto-injector form of ephedrine that can stop a severe allergic reaction. It's only sold in pairs, retailing for about $600.
But it's not the only prescription drug with an exorbitant price.
Dr. Susan Laubach, who directs the allergy clinic at Rady Children’s Hospital, said there are drugs for other chronic conditions that people struggle to pay for.
“For my patients with asthma, we run into the same problem with their maintenance medications, costing $300 a month for many inhalers," Laubach said. "There are many brands that don’t have a generic option.”
There’s an anti-psoriasis drug that costs consumers with insurance thousands of dollars per injection. And medication that can cure hepatitis C that retails for $1,000 per pill.
The pharmaceutical industry says high prices are necessary for companies to recoup their research and developments costs.
But critics argue drug makers like Mylan are just gouging the public.
