Topic: Epipens

President Trump signed four executive orders aimed at drastically reducing prescription drug prices. These include requiring federal health centers to pass discounts on insulin and EpiPens directly to patients and allowing the legal importation of cheaper identical drugs from Canada. The lack of mainstream media coverage is attributed to the pharmaceutical industry's heavy advertising spend.

The hosts debate the economics of the pharmaceutical industry, comparing the current situation to the price gouging seen with insulin and EpiPens. They explore why big drug companies haven't simply bought the manufacturers of hydroxychloroquine to raise prices, noting that many of these manufacturers are based in India. The discussion shifts to the industry's primary focus on high-profit vaccines.

Sony Pictures issued an apology following a backlash against the "Peter Rabbit" film for a scene depicting "allergy bullying." In the movie, rabbits pelt a character with blackberries, knowing he is allergic, which results in him using an EpiPen. Advocacy groups for asthma and allergy sufferers argued that making light of life-threatening allergies is dangerous, particularly as children with food allergies are frequently targets of bullying.

Mylan CEO Heather Bresch faced intense questioning from a House Oversight Committee regarding the 400% price increase of life-saving EpiPens. Representative Scott DesJarlais and other lawmakers excoriated Bresch for profiting from a monopoly while the company's wholesale acquisition cost reached $608. Bresch defended the company by citing the introduction of a $300 generic version and programs to provide free devices to schools.

The pharmaceutical company Mylan faced congressional scrutiny after raising the price of EpiPens from $100 to over $600. The hosts characterize the price hike as part of a larger "insurance scam" facilitated by the Affordable Care Act, where drug companies inflate costs while the FDA prevents generic competition from entering the market.