Amgen Direct-to-Patient Program Aims to Expand Access to Evolocumab Amid US Drug Pricing Reforms

In alignment with the Trump administration’s efforts to lower drug prices, Amgen today launched AmgenNow, a direct-to-patient program offering evolocumab (Repatha) at a monthly price of $239, nearly 60% below the current US list price.¹

AmgenNow is available to all patients taking evolocumab, including those covered by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The price is the lowest among economically developed countries and is being offered exclusively to US patients.

According to Amgen, patients who enroll in AmgenNow will not be subject to insurer requirements for step therapy or prior authorization. The company also plans to make the program accessible through the TrumpRx website, launching in 2026, which will allow Americans to purchase medicines directly from pharmaceutical companies at steep discounts.²

Evolocumab is a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adults at increased risk.¹ Last week, Amgen announced results from the VESALIUS-CV phase 3 trial (NCT03872401), which showed evolocumab significantly reduced the risk of MACE in those without a prior history of heart attack or stroke.³

The drug is also indicated, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults with hypercholesterolemia, patients 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and those 10 years and older with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.¹

“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,” Murdo Gordon, executive vice president of global commercial operations at Amgen, said in a news release. “This will allow even more Americans at increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events to benefit from this effective medicine.”

In its announcement, Amgen emphasized that the launch of AmgenNow supports President Donald Trump's efforts to lower US drug prices under the Most Favored Nation (MFN) executive order. As part of MFN, letters were sent to major pharmaceutical companies earlier this year, demanding they lower US prices to match discounted rates offered in developed nations.⁴

Specifically, the order outlined 4 key requirements for manufacturers: extend MFN pricing to all Medicaid patients, agree not to offer lower prices for new drugs to other developed nations, provide a direct-to-patient sales option, and use trade policy to support manufacturers in raising international prices.

The week before Amgen's announcement, the MFN initiative advanced through an agreement with Pfizer to align many of its drug prices with those in other wealthy nations.² According to Pfizer, most of its primary care treatments and some specialty brands will be available on TrumpRx at savings of up to 85%, with an average discount of 50%.

For example, crisaborole (Eucrisa) for atopic dermatitis will be available at an 80% discount, zavegepant (Zavzpret) for migraine attacks will be available at a 50% discount, and tofacitinib (Xeljanz) will be available for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and ulcerative colitis at a 40% discount.

As part of the agreement, Pfizer received a 3-year grace period to avoid tariffs on branded drugs manufactured outside of the US, which took effect on October 1.

“By working closely with the Administration, we are lowering costs for patients and enabling greater investment in the U.S. biopharmaceutical ecosystem by ending the days when American families alone carried the global burden of paying for innovation,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla said in a news release.⁵ “This is about putting all patients first and ensuring America remains the world’s leading engine of medical breakthroughs.”

References

1. Amgen makes Repatha available through AmgenNow, a direct-to-patient program in the US. News release. Amgen. October 6, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.amgen.com/newsroom/press-releases/2025/10/amgen-makes-repatha-available-through-amgennow-a-directtopatient-program-in-the-us
2. Joszt L. White House, Pfizer reach agreement on drug discounts; Trump announces TrumpRx. AJMC^®. September 30, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/white-house-pfizer-reach-agreement-on-drug-discounts-trump-announces-trumprx
3. Landmark phase 3 trial (VESALIUS-CV) meets primary endpoints in a cardiovascular primary prevention study of 12,000 patients. News release. Amgen. October 2, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://wwwext.amgen.com/newsroom/press-releases/2025/10/landmark-phase-3-trial-vesaliuscv-meets-primary-endpoints-in-a-cardiovascular-primary-prevention-study-of-12000-patients
4. Santoro C. Trump directs pharma companies on cutting drug prices under Most-Favored-Nation order. AJMC. July 31, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.ajmc.com/view/trump-directs-pharma-companies-on-cutting-drug-prices-under-most-favored-nation-order
5. Pfizer reaches landmark agreement with US government to lower drug costs for American patients. News release. Pfizer. September 30, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2025. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-reaches-landmark-agreement-us-government-lower-drug