Re the Aug. 25 editorial “EpiPen maker sticks it to patients — again’’: We agree. The price hikes of the EpiPen allergy-drug injector are “shameless’’ and “deceptive,’’ and another example of drugmakers pricing their products at whatever the market will bear.

Prescription drug prices are the fastest-growing cost in health care, placing life-saving therapies beyond the reach of consumers. Drugmaker Mylan’s initial response to the public’s EpiPen price hike outrage was to enhance its patient-assistance program, a marketing ploy that discounts the cost of EpiPens for individuals but does nothing to address the underlying cost gouging, or the resulting impact on insurance premiums.

We urge lawmakers and regulators to step in and shine a light on the true development and production costs of pharmaceuticals. This is a wake-up call. Let’s work together to place the EpiPen and other life-saving therapies back within the reach of the people who need them. Let’s stop underwriting exorbitant profits, drug marketing budgets, and lobbyists’ salaries.

Innovative new drugs and therapies will be worthless if no one can afford to buy and use them.

Amy Whitcomb Slemmer

Executive director

Health Care for All

Boston