Mylan facing US anticompetitive practice probe

Two leading members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee have called for an investigation into Mylan's adherence to market competition laws over its EpiPen sales practices.

The committee's chairman Charles Grassley and member Patrick Leahy have requested that the US' Federal Trade Commission (FTC) launch an antitrust probe into whether the firm prevented schools from purchasing rival allergy treatments.

In a letter to the federal antitrust regulator, Grassley and Leahy said the agency should look into exclusive school contracts for restrictions regarding EpiPen competitors.

Addressed to FTC chairwoman Edith Ramirez, its states: “Increasing patient access to safe, effective and affordable medications has long been a shared priority of ours.

“We also share a strong belief that potential anti-competitive actions by drug industry participants must be aggressively investigated because of their impact on competition and drug costs.

“We therefore request that the FTC look into whether Mylan engaged in any anti-competitive practices in violation of the antitrust laws with respect to the EpiPen, and, if so, take appropriate action to safeguard patients.”

The new inquiry adds to the ongoing scrutiny over Mylan's EpiPen, which has been at the centre of a public drug pricing scandal after protests against its 400% price increase over the past six years.

Mylan has since extended its patient access schemes in the US and committed to the production of a generic version of the emergency anti-allergy injector priced at less than half the two-pen pack's current list price.

The US firm has also proposed a $465m settlement to address claims it underpaid state and federal Medicaid rebates by misclassifying the treatment, which is due to be considered by the Judiciary Committee in the next few weeks.