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October 25, 2018 at 04:59 PM
Amgen Inc. plans to cut the cost of its marquee cholesterol fighter after many patients struggled to afford it, and as drugmakers face increased scrutiny of their pricing practices.
The Thousand Oaks, California-based biotechnology giant said on Wednesday that it will lower the U.S. list price of the drug, called Repatha, from more than $14,000 a year to $5,850, a reduction of roughly 60%. Amgen said its primary goal is to expand use by reducing out-of-pocket costs for Medicare patients.
(Related: Regeneron, Sanofi Cut Heart Drug’s Price to Spur Greater Use)
Repatha is part of a class of injectable medications intended to reduce complications of high cholesterol including heart attack and stroke. The drugs, called PCSK-9 inhibitors, are meant to be taken indefinitely. The steep price has resulted in far slower adoption than expected for what once thought to be a sure-fire blockbuster.
“Up to 75% of Medicare patients who are given a prescription for a PCSK-9 inhibitor are leaving the pharmacy without a prescription,” said David Reese, Amgen’s newly appointed head of research and development. Reese said patients often abandon their prescriptions when they get to the pharmacy and are confronted by high costs.
The move follows a series of steps by the Trump administration designed to rein in rising prescription-drug prices. The White House wants to increase transparency around how much drugs cost and lower the financial burdens faced by patients. President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear on Thursday at the Department of Health and Human Services with Secretary Alex Azar, who has been his point person in the effort to lower prices.
Amgen shares fell 1% to $186 in late trading in New York, after dropping 4.9% during regular trading as broader markets sold off.
Rivals’ Steps
The cut in Repatha’s prices follows a cost decrease earlier this year for the drug’s main competitor, Praluent. In May, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi lowered the price of its drug to spur use.
