Medicare panel to review anemia meds

Should Amgen and Johnson & Johnson be worried? Medicare is convening a group of experts for advice on using the companies' blockbuster anemia drugs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services wants the group to review the drugs--Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen--and their use in chronic kidney disease.

The three drugs have run into safety issues [1] over the past couple of years, after studies showed that high doses increased the risk of heart problems and death. The FDA slapped black-box warnings on the drugs and some insurers, including Medicare, set reimbursement limits. Sales dropped.

If the panel--known as the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee--recommends further restrictions, that could be another blow to both companies' revenue streams from the drugs. But taking the look-on-the-bright-side view, we suppose there's a chance the panel could loosen up those previously imposed limits [2]. Meanwhile, though, Medicare is putting together rules for bundling dialysis service payments, and as Reuters notes, analysts expect these new regs will cut into the anemia meds' sales.

- read the Reuters piece [3]

Related Articles:
Anemia meds get tougher warnings [4]
EMEA advises against anemia meds [5]
Study: Anemia meds hike death risk 10% [6]
Medicare: Right to restrict anemia meds [2]