What will happen when the cost of EpiPens becomes too high for people to purchase?

EpiPens or epinephrine auto-injectors are a necessity for individuals who possess severe allergies. It is commonly used for anaphylaxis, which can be characterized by rash, nausea, difficulty breathing and shock. Without EpiPens, those with severe allergies are at a constant risk of anaphylaxis. Despite the necessity of EpiPens, the prices of these lifesaving medical devices have risen dramatically over the recent years.

“People over Profit” is a common saying of protest among citizens against these unfair rising prices. The lives of the people are more important than the money Mylan, the company that produces EpiPens, earns. These rising profits lead to the eventual doom of the monopoly that is the EpiPen industry.

Many other companies have attempted to recreate the EpiPen at lower costs. However, this proved unsuccessful as many could not replicate the formulation. Because of this, these products had the potential of fatality and never got approved. However, Dr. Mutasem Rawas-Qalaji and his small group of researchers at Nova Southeastern University in Florida realized the consequences of the rising costs and is in the process of creating a cheaper alternative in the form of an epinephrine pill.

The pill will be sublingual, meaning it would be taken under the tongue, and it would take the epinephrine directly through to the blood vessels. This is because if the pill is taken through the digestive system, stomach acid would break the hormone down. The pills have taken a couple of years to develop because the epinephrine crystals had to be just small enough to be taken up by the bloodstream

The benefits of the pill go beyond the cheaper cost. According to a University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, only 16 percent of users use EpiPens correctly. In fact, many do not administer it deep enough into the muscle or do not leave it in for the recommended 10 seconds. Also EpiPens only last for about a year and are extremely bulky and hard to use. The pill, on the other hand, is smaller, easier to use and is estimated to last over seven years.

Ultimately, the corruption of the EpiPen industry will lead to its eventual downfall as other options are soon to become available to the public. The “EpiPill” will save money and save lives.