As Amgen Looks To Aimovig's Launch, It May Learn From Repatha's Past

Amgen started 2018 off on solid footing with a 2% jump in Q1 revenue to $5.55bn versus consensus estimates of $5.4bn, but new drugs like the CGRP inhibitor Aimovig are needed to keep the momentum going and supplement declining sales for key products.

Syringes stuck in a dartboard

Since Amgen Inc. and Novartis AG are likely to have the first CGRP inhibitor on the market with Aimovig (erenumab), the partners will have an important opportunity to set the pricing and reimbursement tone for the class of migraine therapies, which ultimately will determine whether Aimovig lives up to the hype or becomes a PCSK9-like disappointment.

Amgen CEO Bob Bradway said on the company’s April 24 first quarter earnings call that the company expects to launch...

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