Who makes Otezla and why is it so expensive?
Otezla is made by Amgen Inc, located in Thousand Oaks, California. Otezla is expensive because it is the original, brand name drug and Otezla's manufacturer sponsored the clinical development. The lower-cost generic option called apremilast was approved by the FDA in February 2021, but may not yet be on the market.
How can I save money on Otezla now?
The list price for a 30-day supply of Otezla is $4,830.50 according to Amgen, 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.
- Over nine out of 10 people (99%) with commercial insurance have coverage for Otezla on their insurance plan.
- 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. Co-pays are flat fees you may have to pay at each doctor visit or with a prescription.
- Once you sign up on the Amgen website, you'll receive your digital card via email.
- 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.
Related questions
- Sotyktu vs Otezla: How do they compare?
- Do you need to take Otezla forever?
- How long does it take for Otezla to work?
Why is Otezla prescribed?
Otezla is an oral tablet used to treat:
- psoriatic arthritis in adults
- plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years of age and older (and weighing at least 20 kg) who may also receive phototherapy or other treatments for psoriasis
- 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.
References
- Otezla (apremilast) prescribing information. 4/2024. Amgen Inc. Thousand Oaks, California. Accessed June 11, 2024 at https://www.pi.amgen.com/~/media/amgen/repositorysites/pi-amgen-com/otezla/otezla_pi_english.ashx
- Formulary coverage. Otezla.com. Accessed June 11, 2024 at https://www.otezlapro.com/resources/formulary-coverage/
- Paying for Otezla. Amgen. Accessed June 11, 2024 at https://www.otezla.com/plaque-psoriasis/cost-and-copay
- Walter K. FDA Approves Apremilast Tablets as a Generic for Psoriatic Arthritis. Feb. 17, 2021. HCPLive. Accessed June 11, 2024 at https://www.hcplive.com/view/fda-approves-apremilast-tablets-generic-psoriatic-arthritis
Read next
Can you drink alcohol while taking Otezla?
There is no evidence that it is unsafe to drink alcohol while taking Otezla. However, there are other reasons why it can be beneficial to limit alcohol consumption if you have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Continue reading
How to stop taking Otezla?
Otezla does not cause withdrawal symptoms when stopped, so it may be stopped suddenly, but there have been reports of people experiencing gastrointestinal complaints such as constipation, after they have stopped Otezla. This may be because Otezla tends to help bowels move much better, with some people reporting diarrhea or loose motions while on Otezla, and their stools become a lot harder once they have stopped Otezla. Other symptoms of their condition may also return. For this reason it may be better to reduce the dose of Otezla slowly over a week or two. Continue reading
How does Otezla work and what's its MOA?
In your body, Otezla blocks the action of the PDE4 enzyme to help control inflammatory symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling in conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Continue reading
See also:
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- Does Otezla cause weight gain?
- Is Otezla a biologic? What is Otezla used for?
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- How long has Otezla been on the market?
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Drug information
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