AstraZeneca and GSK Join Boehringer Ingelheim in Capping Out-of-Pocket Inhaler Costs at $35 per Month

1. AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have joined Boehringer Ingelheim in implementing a cap on out-of-pocket inhaler costs for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients at $35 per month.
2. AstraZeneca's new price cap will take effect beginning June 1, covering four of its inhalers, including Symbicort and Airsupra.
3. GSK announced that their commitment to the $35 monthly cap will be effective no later than January 1, 2025.
4. The move follows increased scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, particularly Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who launched an investigation into high inhaler prices earlier this year.
5. Boehringer Ingelheim initiated the trend with its price cap announcement earlier in March, while AstraZeneca followed suit last week.
6. GSK has also faced criticism regarding its decision to substitute branded Flovent HFA for an authorized generic, which led to concerns about "artificially inflated prices" and accountability.
7. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) head Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, applauded GSK's decision to cap prices but emphasized the need to ensure it reaches as many patients as possible.
8. Teva, another major inhaler manufacturer, was included in the HELP committee’s January investigation into the “outrageous” costs for asthma and COPD products on the U.S. market.
9. GSK has been providing significant rebates and discounts for its products, along with patient assistance programs, to help bring down costs before implementing the $35 out-of-pocket cost cap.