After Push From Poliquin, Affordable Generic EpiPen Approved by FDA, In What is Expected to Lower Costs for Maine Rural Emergency Personnel

LEWISTON, Maine – Following Congressman Bruce Poliquin’s (ME-02) urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow for alternative and more affordable versions of EpiPen (epinephrine injection) devices, the agency approved a generic device at a more affordable price, something that is expected to help alleviate costs for Maine’s rural emergency personnel.

EpiPen soared in price in 2016, by more than 500% over the previous decade, placing financial strains on families and a budgetary burden on Maine’s rural fire departments. Congressman Poliquin heard directly from Maine rural fire chiefs about the impact of the jump in costs, specifically the challenges they face in balancing the pay for their services with the costs of maintaining adequate stocks of the EpiPen.

“It’s critical we do everything we can to lower the costs for our rural emergency personnel and make these life-saving devices more affordable for them and for families across Maine,” said Congressman Poliquin. “The approval of more affordable devices is welcome news and I applaud the FDA in making this decision that will hopefully help lower costs for Maine families and emergency personnel.”

In 2016, Fire Chief Craig Shane of the Dedham/Lucerne Fire Department said, "EpiPens are one of the most common drugs that we have to effectively treat a person in our community at the time of a deadly allergic reaction. Fire departments like ours don't have insurance and/or co-pays, for our medication supplies, so we are paying full price. Restocking our trucks at $125 each was expensive enough, but the current price of $1400 is absurd. The escalating price of EpiPens has risen to a point that we can no longer afford to even keep them on our trucks.”

In their 2016 letter, Congressman Poliquin and a bipartisan coalition of 46 lawmakers wrote:

“The shortage of competition has allowed Mylan to continue to increase prices for EpiPen, knowing that there is no generic version currently on the market.  It is disappointing that the FDA recently rejected a request by a pharmaceutical company to start producing an alternative.

“The FDA should seek to spur competition by streamlining the approval process in a way that reduces barriers to entry for pharmaceutical companies wishing to produce epinephrine auto injectors while ensuring all new products are safe for use.”