An epinephrine injection is an emergency medication that is used to treat severe and sometimes life threatening allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis. Anaphyalaxis can be triggered by various allergies, including foods like peanuts, milk, and eggs, latex, drugs, and pollen. The treatment can be used to improve symptoms such as difficulty breathing, raise low blood pressure, reverse hives and skin redness, reduce swelling on the face, lips, and throat, itching, etc. EpiPen is the most common brand name device and is distributed by a company called Mylan. First approved by the FDA in 1987, the product is prefilled with one dose of epinephrine, which can be used once to save a person's life.

Since being first sold in February 2007, the price of an EpiPen package (comes with two devices) has gone from $94 to over a whopping $650. Now, the average retail price of EpiPens in the U.S. is $669.80. Even generic brands (which are not commonly recommended by healthcare providers as they are do not serve as direct replacements for EpiPens) typically average anywhere between $200 to $300. Though considered a medical necessity, EpiPens are extremely expensive and unafforable for a majority of citizens.

The reason behind the high price of EpiPens lies primarily in Mylan's patent protection that is set to last through 2025. The patent is specifically on the bright orange tip on the end of the device, which allows for the needle that injects epinephrine to release automatically. Since this technology has dominant for so long, companies face difficulties when having to come up with completely new designs for the device. This lack of competition has been the main reason as to why Mylan has been able to raise prices to what they are today.

Though there are many possible solutions, one that has already been proved effective in other countries includes making EpiPen available over-the-counter. According to Forbes, EpiPens and Adrenaclicks (a generic brand) have both been made available over-the-counter in Canada, which allows for consumers to buy them for just $80 USD. Adrenaclick is a generic brand of epinephrine injections, and although many generic brands are not direct replacements for EpiPens, Adrenaclick is still reliable and having one access to one is much better than not. Making these devices available over-the-counter in Canada meant that doctors were unable to continue prescribing EpiPen to patients, and instead gave patients the option to purchase the cheaper alternative for around $200. This competition forced EpiPen to lower their prices, making the device accessible to a much greater number of people.In the United States, the FDA decides whether a product is distributed via prescription or over-the-counter. This is why I have created a petition directed towards the Food and Drug Administration, in hopes of raising awareness on the need for lowing EpiPen prices.