Colorado Tests State Power on Drug Pricing

Colorado’s prescription drug affordability board is considering capping the cost of Amgen’s autoimmune medication Enbrel, marking a potential first in state-led efforts to tackle high drug prices. The board, criticized for its slow action in reducing drug costs, found Enbrel’s annual price of over $46,000 per patient unaffordable. Discussions will soon extend to setting upper payment limits for Medicaid and commercial payers within the state. This initiative is part of a broader scrutiny on drug pricing, with Novartis’ Cosentyx and J&J’s Stelara also under review. Meanwhile, legal challenges against Medicare’s drug price negotiation program highlight the ongoing debate over pricing reforms.

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[Source: STAT, February 22nd, 2024]