The Senate has started its first official committee investigation into the price increase of EpiPen, a life-saving allergy drug that has a $600 price tag.
The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will look into EpiPen maker Mylan Pharmaceuticals’ pricing and competition practices, according to Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., the chairman and top Democrat on the committee, respectively.
Since news of Mylan’s 400 percent price hike emerged, several senators have written to the company asking for information on the reason for the spike.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Mylan improperly hindered competition of the generic drug through exclusive contracts with schools for getting discounted EpiPens.
The New York attorney general also started an investigation into those contracts.
The House is also scrutinizing Mylan. The House Oversight Committee called for Mylan executives to brief the committee and answer questions about the hike.
Democrats on the panel are calling for a hearing on the subject.
