Roche Trial Pending, Amgen Gets CMS' Word On Payouts

As Amgen Inc. gears up for its legal skirmish over Mircera, the erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week issued its edict on reimbursement for the class of drugs in oncology, including Amgen's and Epogen (epoetin alfa) and the second-generation product Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa). Both drugs are approved for anemia in cancer patients and in chronic kidney disease (CKD). (BioWorld Financial Watch)