If you or someone you love has ever faced the sticker shock of a prescription drug bill, you know the feeling: a mix of disbelief, frustration, and sometimes even fear.

For many Americans—especially those in their 60s and beyond—managing cholesterol and heart health is a top priority.

But the cost of breakthrough medications like Repatha has often put them out of reach for too many.

Well, hold onto your hats, because there’s big news that could change the game for your health and your wallet.

A Price Drop That’s Turning Heads​

Amgen, one of the world’s leading biotech companies, just made a move that’s sending ripples through the pharmaceutical industry.

Their cholesterol-lowering drug, Repatha, is now available for just $239 a month through a new online platform called AmgenNow.

That’s a jaw-dropping 60% reduction from its previous list price, and a far cry from the eye-watering $14,100 per year it cost when it first hit the market in 2015.

To put it in perspective, the latest list price before this announcement was about $6,876 a year.

Now, with AmgenNow, you’re looking at less than half that. For many, this could mean the difference between skipping doses and finally getting cholesterol under control.

This isn’t just a random act of corporate kindness. Image source: The New York Times

Why the Sudden Change?​

The price cut comes on the heels of mounting pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration, which has made lowering drug prices a central pillar of its health-care agenda.

Earlier this year, the White House sent formal letters to 17 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, demanding three things:

1. Lower the prices charged to the government.
2. Align new drug pricing with what’s charged in other wealthy countries.
3. Create direct-to-consumer sales channels.

The message was clear: lower your prices, or face the consequences. Amgen’s move to launch AmgenNow and slash Repatha’s price is a direct response to this pressure—and a sign that the administration’s tough talk is having an impact.

Source: KTLA 5 / YouTube​

What Is Repatha, and Why Does It Matter?​

For those who aren’t familiar, Repatha (generic name: evolocumab) is a next-generation cholesterol-lowering medication known as a PCSK9 inhibitor.

It’s prescribed to people with high cholesterol who haven’t been able to reach their goals with statins alone, or who can’t tolerate statins due to side effects.

Clinical trials have shown that Repatha can dramatically lower bad LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

But until now, the high price tag has kept it out of reach for many who could benefit most—especially older adults on fixed incomes or those with high-deductible insurance plans.

Also read: What Pfizer’s new deal could mean for prescription drug costs in America

How Does AmgenNow Work?​

AmgenNow is an online platform where you can purchase Repatha directly, bypassing some of the traditional middlemen that often drive up costs.

The company has also announced plans to link AmgenNow to the TrumpRx website, part of the administration’s push to make lower-cost drugs more accessible to everyday Americans.

This direct-to-consumer approach could be a sign of things to come, as more drugmakers look for ways to meet government demands and keep patients happy.

Source: Repatha / YouTube​

What Does This Mean for You?​

If you’re currently taking Repatha, or if your doctor has recommended it but you’ve hesitated because of the cost, now is the time to take another look. Here’s what you can do:

• Talk to your doctor: Ask if Repatha is right for you, and discuss the new pricing options.
• Visit AmgenNow: Check out the platform to see if you qualify and how the process works.
• Compare with your insurance: Sometimes, cash-pay prices can be lower than what you’d pay with insurance—especially if you have a high deductible.

Also read: Medicare price talks progress quietly as government targets costly prescriptions

A New Era for Drug Pricing?​

Amgen’s move is part of a larger trend. The Trump administration’s “most-favored nation policy” aims to ensure Americans don’t pay more for medications than people in other wealthy countries.

While this is a step in the right direction, experts warn that one price cut isn’t enough.

The administration has made it clear: more action is needed, and more companies will be expected to follow suit.

For now, though, this is a win for patients—and a sign that your voice, and your vote, matter when it comes to health care policy.

Read next:

• Changes ahead for Medicare Advantage in 2026
• Medicare 2026 update: What to know about premiums, benefits, and plan choices

Key Takeaways

• Amgen has launched AmgenNow, an online platform selling its cholesterol drug Repatha for $239 a month—about 60% less than the current list price—to meet pressure from President Trump’s push for lower US drug prices.
• Repatha’s price has dropped significantly since its 2015 launch, now reaching its lowest US price to date in line with Trump’s “most-favoured nation” policy, which demands US drug prices match or undercut those in other wealthy nations.
• The Trump administration has warned major pharmaceutical companies to lower prices for the government, align new drugs with international pricing, and create direct-to-consumer sales channels, threatening action against firms that fail to comply.
• Amgen’s move may help it avoid further scrutiny from the White House, but officials have made it clear that a single price cut won’t be enough to satisfy ongoing demands for broader drug price reform.

Have you struggled with the high cost of prescription drugs? Have you tried Repatha, or has the price kept you from filling your prescription? What do you think about the government’s push to lower drug prices?

 

[tomdurk]

Can you remind me what Trump's first act was on drug prices? Do you remember what happened to $35 insulin? The scheduled big reductions on Eliquis and a couple dozen other major drugs?