Co-pay support program for patients taking Enbrel (Etanercept)

Amgen and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals have announced the ENBREL Support™ Co-pay Card Program for all eligible patients who take Enbrel (Etanercept). Who's eligible? Well, maybe we should start with those who are not eligible:

This program is not open to uninsured patients or patients receiving prescription reimbursement from federal, state, or government-funded insurance programs (for example, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) or patients who live in Massachusetts (or where prohibited by law). Restrictions, including monthly maximums, may apply. Offer subject to change or discontinuation without notice.

This co-pay support program may offer:

• 6 months at no co-pay cost, and
• A co-pay of $10 or less per month thereafter (Patients will receive 50% off their co-pay or pay no more than $10 per month—whichever helps more)

The ENBREL Support™ Co-pay Card Program provides patients with up to $750 of assistance per month for months 1-12. For patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are first starting ENBREL, the program provides up to $1,500 per patient per month for months 1-3. Patient is responsible for costs above these amounts. Participation in the program can be renewed every year.

More than 45,000 people have already used a co-pay card for their ENBREL treatment.
The program is simple for you to share with patients. Direct patients to call 1-888-4ENBREL to enroll today.

Patients who lose their jobs but are covered by private insurance, including COBRA, may receive up to an additional 6 months of ENBREL at no co-pay cost. Potential help for patients who are uninsured or in need of other financial help is also available.

Here are the FDA-approved indications for ENBREL:

• ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, inducing major clinical response, inhibiting the progression of structural damage, and improving physical function in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. ENBREL can be initiated in combination with methotrexate (MTX) or used alone.
• ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients ages 2 and older.
• ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, inhibiting the progression of structural damage of active arthritis, and improving physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. ENBREL can be used in combination with methotrexate in patients who do not respond adequately to methotrexate alone.
• ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
• ENBREL is indicated for the treatment of adult patients (18 years or older) with chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

Click here for additional details of the co-pay support program.

Since Enbrel is a TNF blocker, make sure you read this:

• FDA: Cancer Warnings Required for TNF Blockers

FDA: Cancer Warnings Required for TNF Blockers

Here is the latest news from the FDA regarding TNF blockers and the risk of cancer:

FDA: Cancer Warnings Required for TNF Blockers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requiring stronger warnings in the prescribing information for a class of drugs known as TNF blockers. The warnings, which include an updated boxed warning, highlight the increased risk of cancer in children and adolescents who receive these drugs to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory bowel disorder, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory diseases.

In addition, the FDA is working with manufacturers to explore new ways to further define the risk of cancer in children and adolescents who use these drugs.

TNF blockers target and neutralize tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a protein that, when overproduced in the body due to chronic inflammatory diseases, can cause inflammation and damage to bones, cartilage and tissue. The drugs in this class include

• Remicade (infliximab),
  
• Enbrel (etancercept),
  
• Humira (adalimumab),
  
• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) and
  
• Simponi (golimumab).

Today’s action is based on the completion of an investigation first announced by the FDA in June 2008. An analysis of U.S. reports of cancer in children and adolescents treated with TNF-blockers showed an increased risk of cancer, occurring after 30 months of treatment on average. About half of the cancers were lymphomas, a type of cancer involving cells of the immune system. Some of the reported cancers were fatal.

Additional required updates to the prescribing information include incorporation of reports of psoriasis associated with the use of TNF blockers.

Can you list who manufacturers the medications listed above? Eventually, I think we're going to realize that there's an increased risk of cancer with many of the biologic agents that are out there. The irony is that many biologic agents (different classes of drugs with varying mechanisms of actions) are also used to treat cancer. As we learn more about biologic agents, we may eventually complete the cancer circle. The more we understand about what causes cancer, the better we may be able to treat cancer.