AstraZeneca has announced that it will “expand the savings programs for its entire US inhaled respiratory portfolio,” capping costs at $35 per month for “eligible patients” as of June 1, 2024, while noting that “terms and conditions apply.” Inhalers covered by the program include Airsupra albuterol / budesonide MDI, Bevespi Aerosphere glycopyrrolate / formoterol fumarate MDI, Breztri Aerosphere budesonide / glycopyrronium / formoterol fumarate MDI, and Symbicort budesonide / formoterol fumarate MDI.
The move closely follows a similar announcement by Boehringer Ingelheim and comes after a US Senate committee began investigating “outrageous” prices for inhalers, citing the greater than $700 cost for Bevespi Aerosphere among other examples and accusing the company of anti-competitive practices.
AstraZeneca notes that it also “substantially reduced” the list price for Symbicort at the beginning of this year and “will continue to provide discounts and rebates off the list price to help patients afford its inhaled respiratory medicines.” According to GoodRx pages accessed on March 19, 2024, the retail price of Breyna, a generic of Symbicort launched in mid-2023, ranges from $230 to more than $400 at major US retailers, with coupons available for prices of ~$110-$350. For Symbicort, GoodRx offers coupons available to bring the price down to the $250 range from $350-$475 retail prices at the same US stores.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot commented, “AstraZeneca’s expanded savings programs build on our longstanding commitment to addressing barriers to access and affordability for patients living with respiratory diseases to ultimately help patients lead healthier lives. We remain dedicated to addressing the need for affordability of our medicines, but the system is complex and we cannot do it alone. It is critical that Congress bring together key stakeholders to help reform the healthcare system so patients can afford the medicines they need, not just today, but for the future.”
Read the AstraZeneca press release.
