Amgen is a multinational biopharmaceutical company that produces drugs used to prevent infections in chemotherapy patients, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and many others.
Amgen was founded in 1983 as Applied Molecular Genetics. In 1986 the name of the company was changed to Amgen at the same time that it began trading on the NASDAQ.
In 1989 Amgen received FDA approval for Epogen, a treatment for Anemia that would prove to have wide-reaching applications for cancer and HIV patients and was the company’s first success.
In 1991 the company received approval for Neupogen for the prevention of infections in patients with compromised immune systems.
Today Amgen is the world’s largest independent biotechnology firm and uses cellular biology and medicinal chemistry to target cancers, kidney ailments, inflammatory disorders, and metabolic diseases. The company has extensive drug research and development programs.
Amgen trades publicly on the NASDAQ under the symbol AMGN, is a member of the S&P 500, has 20,000 employees, and had $18.96 billion in revenue in 2013.
AmgenAmgen is a multinational biopharmaceutical company that produces drugs used to prevent infections in chemotherapy patients, treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and many others.
Amgen was founded in 1983 as Applied Molecular Genetics. In 1986 the name of the company was changed to Amgen at the same time that it began trading on the NASDAQ.
In 1989 Amgen received FDA approval for Epogen, a treatment for Anemia that would prove to have wide-reaching applications for cancer and HIV patients and was the company’s first success.
History
In 1991 the company received approval for Neupogen for the prevention of infections in patients with compromised immune systems.
Today Amgen is the world’s largest independent biotechnology firm and uses cellular biology and medicinal chemistry to target cancers, kidney ailments, inflammatory disorders, and metabolic diseases. The company has extensive drug research and development programs.
Amgen trades publicly on the NASDAQ under the symbol AMGN, is a member of the S&P 500, has 20,000 employees, and had $18.96 billion in revenue in 2013.
I received Rapatha for a year as a trial. It reduced my cholesterol immensley. My doctor was thrilled because what I have is hereditary. I cannot take Statin drugs. This is the only medicine that helped me. I cannot purchase the shots due to the astronomical cost of over $500 a month with my insurance. I am a walking time bomb with the high numbers of my cholesterol.
I have told my husband if I die from a stroke or heart attack to please bring a suit against Amgen because of this extraordinary price gauging on this drug. There is absolutely no reason Repatha should cost so much. I have tried to get assistance and they said I make too much money. I am on Social Security and Medicare. The doctor’s are at a loss for words when I told them how much it costs every month. I read all about the great job your company does and how the stocks went up, but that is not helping Americans who need this drug.
Please remove my name from your system. I do not know how you got my name and address. Unfortunately the address you have belongs to my employer and is extremely upset I received mail to their address.
I would appreciate your prompt assistance with this matter.
9900 Hickory Ridge
Conroe Tx 77303
Regards,
Sharon Caylor
8-13-2018
To: AMGEN
From: Jerilyn Sinapi
Regarding: REPATHA
This letter is a last resort plea on my behalf to somehow acquire the medication Repatha that I so desperately need. My cardiologist has been fighting with my insurance company, Florida Blue, since January. They have rejected everything we have sent, always saying denied, that we haven’t provided enough information or haven’t met their criteria. But I assure you we have provided everything they have asked for. Bottom line sadly is they just don’t want to pay for it.
My story is I am a 54 year old woman who has always had high cholesterol even as a child. I have familial hypercholesteremia. My mother died of heart disease at 46 years of age. My brother and I inherited her bad gene. I have tried multiple statins but they have caused severe debilitating side effects to the point I couldn’t even walk, even at the lowest doses. They produced severe myalgia, and if I hadn’t stopped them would have possibly lead to rhabdomyolysis. This has been an ongoing struggle for me until I tried Repatha. This medication reduced my LDL and cholesterol in half in about a month… miraculous!!! I was so excited… until I found out my insurance would not cover it.
My hope in writing this letter is to plea with you about my life. I had a Coronary CT angiogram done and it revealed I have a blockage in one of my main arteries. So now, I have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, insurance still won’t cover it. I have to have a cardiac catherization done but my insurance deductible is so high I can’t afford to have it done. If I don’t do anything I will most likely have an event, possibly heart attack or stroke. I don’t want that to happen, especially knowing that there is something out there that could help me. I even tried your Amgen Safety Net Foundation but that was rejected because they said Repatha is on your insurances formulary. True, it is, but with major restrictions. I had explained we did everything they asked but to no avail.
Would you consider sending me some Repatha in good faith….I’m at a dead end here and no where else to turn. Anything would help for I am desperate and don’t want to end up having an event that could damage me for life or kill me. I pray that whomever reads this will answer my prayers and allow me to live my life without having to worry every day about my unfortunate cirXXXXstance of this cholesterol problem.
I applaud Amgen for making such a wonderful drug. With the price tag it carries and my insurance consistently denying it, YOU are my only salvation. Please consider helping out a person who could extremely benefit from Repatha. I don’t want to die from this condition.
Thank You so much
Jerilyn Sinapi
Largo, FL 33773
727-642-XXXXX
2greys@ tampabay.rr.com
To
amgenmediarelations at amgen.com
Feb 25 at 4:08 PM
I was on the original test for rapatha at Cardiology of Tupelo,Mississippi (662-620-6800) for the past three or four years.. The drug is wonderful and has gotten my bad cholesterol down in the low single and double digits.. As of 2/24/17 have been notified that I will be buying the product with a 400.00 copay for two shots per month.. This cost is way out of our budget so I will not be using the product any more.. I feel that since I have been on the drug for a long period of time that I should get some sort of extra benefit for being participant in the study.. I will be going cold turkey from rapatha to a pill everyday.. Please get back with me and let me know if you treat all of your clinical study participants with such low regard.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jimmy Wilson
Corinth. Ms
Dob: 12-10-19**
662-287-****
I am writing to you because I have been turned down for any help in helping me to pay for the co-payment for the prescription drug Enbrel. I have been on Enbrel for over 10 years and have enjoyed the benefits that this drug has helped in controlling my plaque psoriasis.
Before I reached the age of 65, I had to pay very little copay. When I became eligible for Medicare, I was fortunate to get help from the Pan Foundation for the past two years. I have not been able to get any help this year due to the lack of funds. I have been going on their website at least 15 times per day and they do not have any funds. I had to purchase January’s prescription for $1413.28 and for February it is going to be over $1500.00.
I have exhausted every known resource in getting help to pay for the co-pay. I just received a letter from the AMGEN Safety Net Foundation stating that I’m not eligible because I have insurance coverage for this medication. I tried to go to Manage My Co-Pay and when I told the representative that I was on Medicare, I was told I didn’t qualify.
It doesn’t seem fair that while I was working my cost were very little and that now that I’m on Medicare, I have to pay an enormous copay for a drug that I need. I know I’m not the only person that has this same problem. It appears there are a lot of programs for those who are working, but very few, if any for those who are on Medicare.
Again, thank you for a drug that works.
Alton Daniel
Chester, Va. 23836
804-530-XXXXX