Amgen Launches Direct-to-Patient Program for Cholesterol Drug Repatha at 60% Discount
核心洞察
Amgen launched AmgenNow, a direct-to-patient program offering Repatha at $239 per month, nearly 60% below the current U.S. list price.
The program is available to all eligible patients including uninsured individuals and those preferring to pay out-of-pocket, without step therapy or prior authorization requirements.
This pricing represents the lowest cost among economically developed G-7 countries and supports the Trump administration's efforts to reduce U.S. drug costs.
Amgen announced the launch of AmgenNow, a groundbreaking direct-to-patient program that makes its cholesterol medication Repatha (evolocumab) available at $239 per month—nearly 60% below the current U.S. list price. The program launched on October 6, 2025, marking a significant shift in pharmaceutical pricing strategy and patient access.
Program Details and Accessibility
The AmgenNow program is designed to serve all eligible patients, including those who are uninsured, enrolled in high-deductible health plans, or prefer to pay cash or out-of-pocket. Notably, patients participating in government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are also eligible for the program.
"Amgen is committed to finding new ways to help patients benefit from our medicines," said Murdo Gordon, executive vice president of Global Commercial Operations at Amgen. "Repatha has already helped more than 5 million patients, and the AmgenNow program will make it easier for uninsured patients or those who choose to pay out-of-pocket to access treatment."
A key advantage of the program is that participants are not subject to insurer requirements for step therapy or prior authorization, removing common barriers to treatment access. The company plans to make AmgenNow accessible through TrumpRx, a federal website set to launch in early 2026 that will connect consumers with discounted medications.
Clinical Significance and Global Context
The new pricing structure represents the lowest cost among economically developed G-7 countries and is being offered exclusively to U.S. patients for the first time. This initiative supports the Trump administration's efforts to lower drug prices for Americans and addresses the ongoing challenge of medication affordability.
The program launch follows landmark results from the VESALIUS-CV Phase 3 trial, which demonstrated that Repatha significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in individuals without a prior history of heart attack or stroke.
About Repatha
Repatha is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). The drug works by binding to PCSK9 and preventing it from binding to the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, which prevents PCSK9-mediated receptor degradation and allows the receptor to recycle back to the liver cell surface. By inhibiting PCSK9 binding, Repatha increases the number of LDL receptors available to clear LDL from the blood, thereby lowering LDL cholesterol levels.
The clinical benefits and safety of Repatha have been extensively studied over 15 years in 50 clinical trials involving over 57,000 patients. The medication is approved in more than 74 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Canada, and all 28 European Union member countries.
Indications and Safety Profile
Repatha is indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (CV death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina requiring hospitalization, or coronary revascularization) in adults at increased risk for these events. It is also approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce LDL cholesterol in adults with hypercholesterolemia and in adults and pediatric patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
The most common adverse reactions in adults with primary hyperlipidemia include nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, back pain, and injection site reactions. In cardiovascular outcomes trials, the most frequently reported adverse reactions were diabetes mellitus, nasopharyngitis, and upper respiratory tract infection.