AstraZenecaThe U.K.-based maker of popular inhalers such as Symbicort and Airsupra announced Monday that it plans to limit the cost of its inhalers to $35 per month for patients in the United States starting June 1. asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which together affect approximately 41 million Americans and make breathing extremely difficult.
The announcement follows an announcement from rival company Boehringer Ingelheim earlier this month For U.S. consumers, the price of the inhaler will also be capped at $35. AstraZeneca’s decision is a major victory for Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups who have been pressing for sweeping changes in the pharmaceutical industry.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America issued a statement applauding AstraZeneca’s announcement but stressed that more work needs to be done.
“AAFA applauds AstraZeneca’s announcement to limit the cost of asthma inhalers and urges other manufacturers to take similar steps to make Medications are cheaper and more accessible.” Publish online on Monday.
“AAFA continues to elevate the voice of the patient community and draw attention to the complex drug pricing ecosystem in the United States that makes asthma medications more expensive for those who need them most. Drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, insurance companies, employers and the government are working on Operating within a perverse system that results in higher prices – all stakeholders must work together to improve affordability and access,” Mendez continued.
U.S. consumers pay some of the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, often due to a ban passed by Congress in 2003 that barred the U.S. government from negotiating better drug prices. The Inflation Lowering Act of 2022 seeks to eliminate that law for certain drugs, but it would It will take several years be fully implemented.
Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont also praised AstraZeneca’s move on Monday, noting that Americans “are paying more for the same inhalers than others in Europe and the world.” 10 to 70 times the number of patients in the region.”
Sanders and other members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee have been holding hearings on the sky-high prices Americans pay for prescription drugs. The senator stressed that other companies should follow the lead of AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim.
“Today, I am calling on the other two major inhaler manufacturers – GlaxoSmithKline and Teva – to take similar action. If AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim can cap the cost of an inhaler in the United States at $35, Then other companies can do the same.” said in a statement.
“The Senate HELP Committee will continue to do all we can to ensure that Americans no longer pay the highest prices in the world, by far, for prescription drugs,” Sanders continued.
The four inhaler brands for which AstraZeneca will set price caps include Airsupra, Bevespi Aerosphere, Breztri Aerosphere and Symbicort.