American College of Cardiology Supports Lowering Drug Costs to Improve Access
Contact: Nicole Napoli, nnapoli@acc.org, 202-375-6523
WASHINGTON (Feb 11, 2019) -
American College of Cardiology President C. Michael Valentine, MD, FACC, made the following statement on Sanofi and Regeneron’s decision to reduce the price of Praluent, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor used to treat adults whose high cholesterol is not controlled by diet or statin treatment.
"ACC is committed to helping physicians with access to care issues, and our goal is to make sure the highest risk patients have access to the care they need," said ACC President C. Michael Valentine, MD, FACC. "Our updated cholesterol guideline, issued in November, underscores that drug costs should be factored in when determining the most appropriate treatment strategy for a patient, as cost can be a barrier to access. Sanofi and Regeneron’s efforts today and Amgen’s announcement last year to lower the cost of PCSK9s and increase transparency for patients is a big step toward removing barriers to access and improving heart health for many patients."
The American College of Cardiology envisions a world where innovation and knowledge optimize cardiovascular care and outcomes. As the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team, the mission of the College and its more than 52,000 members is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC bestows credentials upon cardiovascular professionals who meet stringent qualifications and leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College also provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research through its world-renowned JACC Journals, operates national registries to measure and improve care, and offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions. For more, visit acc.org.
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