Drugmaker caps its inhalers at $35 a month

Joseph Choi
·4-min read

 

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One of the top inhaler manufacturers in the U.S. announced plans on Thursday to cap the out-of-pocket cost of all its inhalers at $35 a month starting later this year after facing Democratic ire. 

 

© AP

 

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that starting on June 1, all its inhaler products will be capped at $35 a month, aiming the decision at patients with employer-sponsored insurance and those who are underinsured and uninsured. 

 

This comes about two months after Democratic senators sent a letter to the top inhaler manufacturers for the U.S. — AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline and Teva — as part of an investigation into the “exorbitant” price of inhalers. 

 

“We want to do our part to help patients living with COPD or asthma who struggle to pay for their medications. This new program supports patients with predictable, affordable costs at the pharmacy counter,” Jean-Michel Boers, president and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim’s U.S. operations, said in a statement. 

 

Boehringer Ingelheim’s primary asthma product is Spiriva® Respimat®, a long-acting bronchodilator that can be taken with corticosteroids in cases of severe asthma. 

 

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) welcomed the announcement, saying, “If Boehringer Ingelheim can take action to cap the cost of inhalers at $35 in the United States and lower the list price of some of the inhalers it manufactures, these other companies can do the same.” 

 

This move echoes the actions taken by insulin manufacturers last year. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly all launched similar programs capping patient out-of-pocket costs at $35 a month for certain insulin products.   

 

 

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

 

 

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