Amgen Expands Patient Access to Repatha in US

Amgen introduces direct-to-patient access for Repatha in the US, allowing patients to purchase the medication directly from the company. This move aims to improve access and affordability for patients with high cholesterol. The program will be available in select pharmacies and online, with prices lower than the list price of the medication.

Amgen has introduced a direct-to-patient access program for Repatha (evolocumab) in the United States, aiming to enhance affordability and accessibility for patients with high cholesterol. The program will allow eligible patients to purchase the medication directly from the company, with prices lower than the list price, through select pharmacies and online channels.

The initiative is part of Amgen's ongoing efforts to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients, particularly those on Medicare. According to the company, an estimated 75% of Medicare patients prescribed a PCSK9 inhibitor, such as Repatha, do not fill their prescriptions due to high out-of-pocket costs Amgen Makes Repatha® (Evolocumab) Available In The US At A 60 Percent Reduced List Price^[1].

Amgen's direct-to-patient program will be available in select pharmacies and online, with prices set at $5,850 per year, a 60% reduction from the medicine's original list price. The lower-priced Repatha will be identical to the currently available version and will be available immediately through the most commonly used delivery system, SureClick®. Other delivery systems, such as the Pre-Filled Syringe and Pushtronex®, will be available in the next 2-3 months Amgen Makes Repatha® (Evolocumab) Available In The US At A 60 Percent Reduced List Price^[1].

The company has also introduced a new National Drug Code (NDC) to facilitate the transition to the lower-priced options. Amgen will continue offering Repatha at its original list price for a period, with an expectation of discontinuing the original list price by the end of 2020 or sooner. The program is designed to ensure a smooth transition and encourage payers to adopt the lower-priced options Amgen Makes Repatha® (Evolocumab) Available In The US At A 60 Percent Reduced List Price^[1].

Amgen's direct-to-patient program is part of its broader strategy to improve patient access and affordability. The company has been offering significant rebates to payers in exchange for improved patient access, with agreements in place with payers representing over 65% of Repatha's commercial revenue Amgen Makes Repatha® (Evolocumab) Available In The US At A 60 Percent Reduced List Price^[1].

The introduction of the direct-to-patient program follows the successful Repatha cardiovascular outcomes study (FOURIER), which demonstrated that adding Repatha to optimized statin therapy resulted in a statistically significant 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events Amgen Makes Repatha® (Evolocumab) Available In The US At A 60 Percent Reduced List Price^[1].

Amgen's direct-to-patient program for Repatha is expected to have a positive impact on patient access and affordability, potentially leading to improved health outcomes for patients with high cholesterol.