Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has initiated legal action against pharmaceutical companies Mylan and Pfizer, alleging that they conspired to raise the price of EpiPen devices by over 600%. The lawsuit claims these actions were intended to increase profits from EpiPen prescriptions and block competing products from entering the market. EpiPens are used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions.
“Pharmaceutical companies have prioritized profits over patients,” said Attorney General Rokita. “Many Indiana residents rely on these medications to stay alive. Hoosiers deserve to know that the prices they pay for epinephrine arise from free and fair competition.”
The complaint states that Mylan, Pfizer, and their subsidiaries violated several state laws, including the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, the Indiana Antitrust Act, and the Medicaid False Claims Act. According to Rokita’s office, these violations involved increasing EpiPen prices and paying pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to exclude competitors from the market.
“Hoosier families are suffering enough already from the economic decline experienced during the Biden administration,” Rokita added. “For these companies to add to the pain by scheming against people with medical conditions is absolutely unethical.”
The suit further alleges that both companies paid doctors to support their decision to sell only a two-pack version of EpiPen instead of individual units, claiming it was medically necessary.
Attorney General Rokita’s office has previously pursued cases against other pharmaceutical firms. Past actions include a $66.5 million settlement with Centene over cost disclosures, a $573 million multistate settlement with McKinsey & Co. regarding its role in promoting opioid sales alongside Purdue Pharma, and $49.1 million in settlements with Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex for generic drug price fixing.
A copy of the lawsuit and a headshot of Attorney General Rokita have been made available by his office.
