Who makes Otezla and why is it so expensive?

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Official answer

by Drugs.com

Otezla is made by Amgen Inc, located in Thousand Oaks, California. Otezla is expensive because it is a brand name drug. The lower-cost generic option called apremilast was approved by the FDA in February 2021, but it is not yet on the U.S. market, possibly due to ongoing patent protection.

How can I save money on Otezla now?

The list price for a 30-day supply of Otezla is $3,857.48, but most people do not pay this price. Here are some ways you can save money on Otezla (apremilast).

1. If you have private, commercial insurance (for example, through an employer or the Affordable Care Act exchange), your insurance will most likely pay for a large portion of the cost of Otezla.

  • Nine out of 10 people (90%) have coverage for Otezla as a preferred drug on their plan with no biologic needed as a prior step.
  • You may be responsible for a portion of the cost of Otezla, such as a deductible, copay or co-insurance.

    • 2. If you have private, commercial insurance, you may be able to save even more using the Amgen $0 copy card program.

  • The majority of people pay nothing out of pocket for Otezla with the $0 co-pay program.
  • Copay cards are not valid with government-issued insurance, like Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare, or for cash-paying customers.

    • 3. Amgen also offers other patient-assistance programs to help with the cost of Otezla.

  • This includes patients who may experience delays in gaining access to the medicine due to reimbursement problems, whose insurance does not cover Otezla, and people with government-issued insurance.
  • Amgen may also be able to assist you if you are uninsured or underinsured.

    • Call Amgen’s SupportPlus at 1-844-4OTEZLA (1-844-468-3952), 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday through Friday, for more information about coverage for Otezla.

    Why is Otezla prescribed?

    Otezla is an oral tablet used to treat psoriatic arthritis in adults, plaque psoriasis in adults who may also receive phototherapy or other treatments for psoriasis, and for mouth ulcers in adults with Behçet's disease (a disease causing inflammation in blood vessels).

    Otezla (apremilast) is an expensive medicine that you may only be able to get from a specialty pharmacy. You may need to be followed more closely by a healthcare provider for safety reasons. Otezla is not a biologic drug treatment.

    This is not all the information you need to know about Otezla (apremilast) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Otezla information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.

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