EpiPen

epinephrine

By now it's old news that Mylan NV plans to produce a generic version of their EpiPen.  Earlier this year people started complaining about the steep rise in price in the life-saving drug.  The EpiPen is an allergy auto-injector device containing epinephrine.  It treats severe allergies including insect bites and food (nuts and eggs, e.g.) that can lead to anaphylactic shock, and expires after a year.  The price was $97 for a 2-pack in 2007, and is $600 now; the generic version will be $300.

This is local news because the name brand version is already produced here in St. Louis and the generic version will be made at the same facilities in Brentwood and Maryland Heights by Meridian Medical Technologies, a subsidiary of Pfizer.