Letter to the Editor Re: your July 23 article

[okarol]

Letter to the Editor

Re: your July 23 article, “Kidney transplant patients face a desperate scramble” http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/22/kidneypackage/:

Amgen commends The Ventura County Star for bringing to light the important issue surrounding the limits on Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients.

Contrary to what is implied in the story, Amgen has and continues to be a strong supporter of expanding access to immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients. For more than two decades, Amgen has been a strong advocate for patients with chronic kidney disease, including patients on dialysis and not on dialysis, as well as those fortunate enough to receive a transplant.

In numerous public advisory committee meetings held by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Amgen has acknowledged transplant is, by far, the preferred treatment option available for most patients whose kidneys have failed. Further, we have worked with the FDA and CMS to ensure regulations and public policy properly reflect the need to preserve the option of transplant for patients on dialysis and improve the long-term viability of transplanted kidneys.

Kidney failure is a devastating disease. Amgen believes all patients, whether on dialysis or receiving a transplant, should have access to high quality health care. Importantly, we continue to advocate that while difficult policy decisions must be made in health care, U.S. policies should not result in the most vulnerable patient groups competing with one another for necessary medical resources.

- Joshua Ofman, MD, MSHS,

Vice President, Global Coverage

and Reimbursement, Amgen



Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/25/kidney-drugs/#ixzz1TI8RsRjI
- vcstar.com