28 November 2018 - Recently, Amgen announced a 60% reduction in the list price of its PCSK9 drug Repatha for patients with statin-resistant elevated cholesterol, following a commensurately substantial rebate offer from its principal competitors. 

The decision was good for patients, good for payers, and likely good for Amgen itself, to the extent it pulls the drug out of the sales doldrums where it has languished since its launch in 2015.

But the Repatha price reduction itself does not resolve the fundamental challenge in promoting innovation and access to treatments for cardiovascular disease, still the leading cause of mortality in the nation.

Read Health Affairs blog