Economics
Why the $600 EpiPen Costs $69 in Britain
- Wide gap in pricing shows flaws in both U.K. and U.S. systems
- Government, competition keep lid on drug prices in Europe
Mylan Plans Half-Priced Generic Version of EpiPen
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The EpiPen allergy shot, enmeshed in controversy because it sells for almost as much as the latest iPhone in the U.S., costs less than its leather case in Britain.
The price of an EpiPen two-pack has surged to more than $600 in the U.S., sparking a political outcry. While the manufacturer, Mylan NV, says it takes home about $274, in the U.K. a similar pair of injectors costs the state-funded National Health Service 53 pounds ($69). The numbers highlight the stark differences in the way drugs are priced in the U.S. and Britain, where the government negotiates with pharmaceutical companies to limit costs.