Judy’s prescription for Enbrel will have a reduced price of $2,355 per month beginning in 2026 – a 67 percent reduction in price. Enbrel currently has a list price of $7,106 per month and Judy spent $9,000 out of pocket on this one drug alone in 2023.
Judy had the opportunity to share her story directly with President Biden earlier in the week at the White House.
“I was honored to introduce President Biden and Vice President Harris today and to be able to share my story directly with the President this week,” said Judy Aiken, from Portland, Maine. “A lower negotiated price for Enbrel and the nine other medications will lift the financial burden off the shoulders of seniors like me. It’s a relief I never thought I’d have. But now, my husband and I can breathe a little easier.”
This announcement comes after decades of advocacy and represents the first time in Medicare’s history that the program has directly negotiated drug prices with pharmaceutical corporations. The negotiated prices cover treatments for common conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and blood clots, which affect a large portion of the community of patients on Medicare. Roughly nine million patients on Medicare take at least one of these drugs including;
- Sheldon Armus, a patient advocate from Boynton Beach, FL, depends on the blood thinner, Xarelto, to prevent dangerous blood clots. Johnson & Johnson has hiked the list price of Xarelto to over $500 for a 30-day supply. Now with the lower negotiated list price of $197, Sheldon could save money every month on his prescription in 2026.
- Lynn Scarfuto, a retired nurse from Herkimer, NY, takes Imbruvica to treat her cancer. Imbruvica has a monthly list price of $14,934. With a lower negotiated price of $9,319 for Imbruvica, the medication responsible for keeping her alive is priced closer within reach.
These prices come after six months of negotiations between pharmaceutical companies and CMS. The negotiation process, mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to balance the need for affordable medications with the importance of continued pharmaceutical innovation. This initial round of negotiations sets the stage for future expansions of the program, with additional drugs slated for negotiation in subsequent years.
JUDY’S REMARKS
Good afternoon,
My name is Judy Aiken, and I’m a 70-year-old retired nurse from Portland, Maine, where I live with my husband of 47 years, our 2 dogs, and nearby our son and teenage granddaughter.
Also for over 4 decades, I’ve battled psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, conditions that have taken a heavy toll on my body. But nothing prepared me for the financial strain that came with the high cost of the drugs I need to live my life — including Enbrel, which comes with a staggering list price.
Last year alone, I paid over $9,000 out-of-pocket just to afford this one drug.
As a nurse, I counseled patients on the importance of taking their medications consistently, but sometimes I’ve found myself unable to follow my own advice and have skipped doses.
For years, it felt like no one was standing up to Big Pharma for patients like me. But thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’s Inflation Reduction Act – that is changing.
Now, Enbrel is one of the first 10 drugs up for Medicare negotiation. The thought of a lower list price for this essential medication feels like a lifeline.
President Biden didn’t just make a promise—he kept it.
Because of the Biden-Harris administration’s actions, my husband and I can finally breathe a little easier.
That’s why it is my great honor to introduce the team who leads the fight to put patients above profits —The President of the United States Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
