Biden announces ten drug prices to be “negotiated” for Medicare in 2026 – funny how a generic version of the most expensive drug, Eliquis, is also scheduled for roll-out in 2026

– it costs 4 times more in the US than Germany (and is one sixth the price in Kazakhstan!)

From here (h/t Just the News)

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces First Ten Drugs Selected for Medicare Price Negotiation | The White House

And here:

Factsheet: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (cms.gov)

“Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Selected Drugs for Initial Price Applicability Year 2026”

“Below is the list of 10 drugs covered under Medicare Part D selected for negotiation for initial price applicability year 2026, based on total gross covered prescription drug costs under Medicare Part D and other criteria as required by the law.”

Hopefully in less than three years time?

CMS has the same table but has prices:

A little dated, but here is a 2019 comparison of prices for Eliquis published last year, from here:

Eliquis median price by country 2019 | Statista

Eliquis is a treatment for blood clots. Sales will probably be booming now..

Pfizer and Bristol Myers are resisting attempts by generic manufacturers – from here, again in 2019:

First generics to Bristol-Myers and Pfizer's Eliquis are here. But can they launch before 2026? | Fierce Pharma

“The FDA approved the first two copycats to Eliquis, made by Mylan and Micro Labs, on Christmas Eve. But despite the agency's announcement, which touted its efforts to get generics to market, the Eliquis copies will not get there anytime soon.

In an ongoing patent dispute, Bristol is strenuously defending the drug. And no wonder—Bristol and Pfizer each have a lot at stake with Eliquis. Billions, in fact.

As Bristol's best-selling drug before the Celgene merger—even ahead of PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo—the drug delivered $5.9 billion to the company’s top line in the first nine months of 2019. Its 25% year-over-year growth rate during the period also far exceeded Opdivo’s 10%.

As for Pfizer, Eliquis delivered a total of $3.1 billion in the first nine months, mostly in revenue from its Bristol alliance but some via direct sales in smaller markets.”

But wait!

First US Eliquis Generics Face Six-Year Wait :: Generics Bulletin (informa.com)

“Mylan and Micro Labs have received the first FDA approvals for generic rivals to BMS’ Eliquis oral anticoagulant. However, as a result of the firms’ settlements with the originator, BMS does not expect the generics to hit the US market until 2026.”

Now how could they possibly know that they should plan to launch in 2026. Surely Pfizer and BMS did not conspire with the Biden Administration!!!

Onwards!

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