AbbVie joins US government pilot to test drug discount rebates

Oct 2 (Reuters) – US drugmaker AbbVie said on Friday it would participate in a US government pilot program aimed at testing a new rebate system for discounted medicines.

Here are some details:

• The pilot will begin on January 1, 2027, under the government’s 340B program, which helps hospitals and clinics serving low-income patients buy medicines at a discount.

• Under the new model, eligible healthcare providers will submit claims through a platform called Beacon to obtain 340B pricing on AbbVie’s cancer drug Imbruvica, irritable bowel syndrome treatment Linzess and antipsychotic drug Vraylar.

• AbbVie said it would provide healthcare groups with free access to the system, as well as customer service and special assistance for providers facing operational difficulties.

• The rebate test will help improve pricing transparency and prevent duplicate discounts as new Medicare-negotiated drug prices take effect, the company said.

• AbbVie said it plans to work closely with federal health regulators and healthcare providers throughout the rollout.

• Besides AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Bristol Myers Squibb are among the companies approved for the federal pilot.

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)