Medicare to Johnson & Johnson and Amgen: You can't always get what you want. Dealing a blow to both companies' fortunes, the agency says it won't reverse its decision to cut reimbursements for anemia drugs.

The two companies surely got their hopes up [1] last week when an FDA advisory committee recommended against dosage restrictions on the drugs, which include Amgen's Aranesp and J&J's Procrit. Shareholders certainly did; Amgen's stock skyrocketed on the news.

There's a loophole, though. Medicare said it might change its mind if the companies came up with some proof that chemo patients absolutely need the drugs. New clinical trial, anyone?

- read the article [2] from the Boston Globe

Related Articles:
Amgen wins a round in anemia ruckus. Report [3]
Amgen discusses the future with analysts. Report [4]
New rules limit use of anemia drugs. Report [5]
Amgen makes big workforce, budget cuts. Report [6]
J&J makes big cuts at Alza and Scios. Report [7]
New study points to danger of anemia drug. Report [8]