Key Highlights
- Repatha is now available at a 60% lower price of $239 per month for uninsured, cash-paying U.S. patients.
- The move comes after President Trump’s July warning urging pharma companies to match global drug prices.
- Amgen launches direct-to-consumer sales portal ‘AmgenNow’, with plans to expand to other drugs.
Amgen Corporation (NASDAQ: AMGN) has launched a new direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales channel for its cholesterol-lowering medication Repatha, slashing its price by nearly 60% for cash-paying U.S. patients.
The Amgen cholesterol drug will now cost $239 per month, a move that underscores the mounting pressure on pharmaceutical companies to address high drug costs in the United States healthcare industry.
The Thousand Oaks, California-based biotech firm said the reduced price applies to uninsured individuals purchasing directly via its newly introduced AmgenNow portal. While insured patients, who make up 98% of Repatha users, can continue accessing the drug through existing coverage plans, often paying as little as $15 per month.
Response to Government Push on Pricing Reform
The pricing overhaul comes in the wake of a July directive by President Donald Trump, who urged 17 leading drugmakers to align U.S. prices with international benchmarks. The administration warned that failure to act could trigger 100% tariffs on branded drugs sold domestically.
In a statement, Amgen said its revised pricing model now reflects “the lowest rate at which Repatha is sold in any developed nation.” The company also emphasized that the AmgenNow platform simplifies access by removing traditional insurance barriers such as prior authorization or step therapy requirements.
Industry Shifts Toward Direct Drug Sales
Amgen joins other pharmaceutical giants such as Pfizer, which has also pledged to reduce prices and explore direct-to-consumer sales to improve affordability. The trend is gaining momentum as the Trump administration prepares to launch TrumpRx, a federal portal aimed at connecting patients directly with manufacturers offering discounted drugs.
Amgen confirmed that its AmgenNow portal will be listed on TrumpRx once the site goes live. Additionally, GoodRx announced a collaboration with Amgen to make Repatha available at the same $239 rate across more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, further expanding patient access.
About Repatha
Approved by the FDA in 2015, Repatha works by inhibiting the PCSK9 protein, which regulates “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. The drug is widely prescribed for patients who cannot tolerate or fail to respond to statins.
With $2.2 billion in global sales last year, Repatha remains one of Amgen’s top-performing drugs. Clinical data also show the medication significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes, even in patients with no prior cardiovascular history.
Following the announcement on 6th October 2025, Amgen’s shares fell 1.5%, reflecting investor caution over how the company’s new pricing approach might influence long-term revenue growth.