WILMINGTON, DE — In a significant move aimed at enhancing access to essential respiratory care, AstraZeneca recently announced plans to broaden its savings programs across its entire US inhaled respiratory portfolio. Starting June 1, 2024, the initiative is designed to cap patient costs at no more than $35 per month for its range of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inhalers. This adjustment aims to benefit those most in need, specifically targeting uninsured and underinsured patients.
Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca, underscored the company’s enduring commitment to breaking down barriers to medication access and affordability. “AstraZeneca’s expanded savings programs build on our longstanding commitment to addressing barriers to access and affordability for patients living with respiratory diseases,” Soriot stated. He also called for collaborative efforts to reform the healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of making medicines affordable not only today but also in the long term.
The updated savings scheme will encompass several key products in AstraZeneca’s US inhaled respiratory medicines lineup, including AIRSUPRA®, BEVESPI AEROSPHERE®, BREZTRI AEROSPHERE®, and SYMBICORT®. Notably, the company had already taken steps to make SYMBICORT more accessible by substantially reducing its list price at the beginning of the year. AstraZeneca plans to continue offering discounts and rebates off the list price to further alleviate the financial burden on patients.
For over five decades, AstraZeneca has been at the forefront of serving respiratory patients through substantial investments in research and development. These efforts have produced new drug-device combinations, next-generation biologics, and novel mechanisms aimed at addressing the significant unmet needs within this patient population. The company’s dedication to transforming patient outcomes while ensuring the accessibility and affordability of its innovative medicines remains steadfast.
This expansion of AstraZeneca’s savings programs arrives at a critical juncture, as the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs continues to be a pressing issue for many Americans. By making inhaled respiratory medicines more affordable, AstraZeneca is not only enhancing patient access to necessary treatments but also contributing to the broader dialogue on healthcare affordability and systemic reform. As the initiative unfolds, it holds the potential to significantly impact the lives of those suffering from asthma and COPD, providing them with an opportunity for improved health and quality of life without the looming concern of financial strain.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.