The state attorney general's office in New York is conducting a probe into whether Mylan Pharmaceuticals unfairly limited competition for its emergency allergy treatment EpiPen. The company has faced sharp criticism for its recent steep price increases, as one of a number of US drugmakers, including Turin Pharmaceuticals and Gilead, which have received negative publicity for similar moves to hike prices of acquired medicine for which there is little or no competition.

Eric Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, said a preliminary review had shown the company “may have inserted potentially anticompetitive terms” into sales contracts with many school systems. Subpoenas for company information have been issued.

“If Mylan engaged in anti-competitive business practices or violated antitrust laws with the intent and effect of limiting lower cost competition, we will hold them accountable," Schneiderman said. “Allergy sufferers have enough concerns to worry about. The availability of life-saving medical treatment should not be one of them.”

EpiPens are used in emergencies to treat severe allergic reactions to insect bites and foods including nuts that can lead to anaphylactic shock. They are auto-injectors, or spring-loaded syringes that provide single doses of the drug epinephrine and can be administered by patients or others outside the medical profession.

Since 2007, reports said, the price of the pens has risen more than 500% to $608 for a two-pack, up more than 500% since 2007. Mylan recently announced plans to launch a generic version for $300. The drugmaker, which is managed from the US state of Pennsylvania but has its official headquarters in the Netherlands, has also promised to distribute more than 700,000 free EpiPens to schools and has dropped a previous purchase restriction for schools that had asked for more discounts.

In the wake of the drug pricing discussion that has also dominated the US presidential election, a New York legislator has introduced a bill to authorize pharmacists to dispense little-known and cheaper generic epinephrine auto-injectors under a brand-specific prescription without having to get a new prescription from a doctor.

“Mylan has spent billions of dollars making EpiPen a household name synonymous with epinephrine, but there are lesser-known products such as generic Adrenaclick, which can be purchased for approximately $140 for a two-pack," said Senate Health Committee Chairman Kemp Hannon.

Claire McCaskill, a member of the US Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, said she expects Congress to hold hearings on the EpiPen price increases.