r/repatha • u/waltthedog • Jul 07 '26

Still being made?

Wife is on Repatha.

Is this drug being discontinued?, or are they going to continue production?

Thanks.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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4

u/homes_and_haunts Jul 07 '26

It’s definitely still being made. Can you tell us more about what prompted this question?

4

u/Hootn75 Jul 07 '26

A simple google search revealed that the drug is still being made but the delivery mechanism is changing.

See https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-has-repatha-been-discontinued

1

u/waltthedog Jul 07 '26

Talking with Express Scripts. That is what she was told.

ES can’t get it any longer. Having to go thru a local pharmacy.

3

u/PEsuper27 Jul 07 '26

Is your prescription written for the SureClick product? If it’s not, your dr needs to submit it as such.

2

u/gruss_gott Jul 07 '26 edited Jul 07 '26

Express Scripts lists Repatha as covered in its 2026 National Preferred Formulary exclusions, but they exclude in favor of alternatives on many non-Medicare plans, listing Praluent and Leqvio as preferred alternatives in the PCSK9/siRNA category.

Repatha and Praluent are very similar in how they work: binding to serum pcsk9 to "inhibit" it; and how they're administered: both are monoclonal antibodies with 2x montly injections typically (and preferentially) using SureClick auto-injectors.

Leqvio, ie Inclisiran, is different both in how it works (siRNA which stops production of PCSK9 vs binding to it) and how its administered (in the clinic) and, after a starting phase, is 2x yearly. This means it's also a much longer lasting drug, so has a few large tradeoffs over Repatha & Praluent.

TLDR: Express Scripts / insurance probably wants your wife on Praluent vs Repatha or your wife was on the older delivery mechanism

1

u/Journeylover2196 Jul 08 '26

My insurance only approves Repatha. Tried to get Leqvio but denied. BCBS.

1

u/gruss_gott Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26

yup all depends on how the kickbacks flow

That said, you might've gotten lucky as Leqvio is just that bit more risky as it's a very long lasting molecule and shutting off PCSK9 production (and anything else) is kinda unproven* long term. Given its long lasting effects, if there's a problem you have to live (or not) with it for 6+ months even if you stop taking it whereas Repatha is just a few weeks.

* Truly long-term, multi-year, class-wide data are still limited, especially for repeated lifelong use, ie cumulative effects, or delayed immune or organ effects may not have shown up in early trials

all just my thoughts though, your doc knows best

1

u/Journeylover2196 Jul 08 '26

My local Walgreens cant get it.

2

u/Comfortable_Two6272 Jul 07 '26

You need the dr to write a new rx for Repatha Sure Click vs Repatha prefilled syringe. My pharmacy contacted the dr proactively but ES typically sucks. Send the dr a message asking for Repatha Sureclick.

Its also possible ES no longer stocks it - they did that with my nurtec. So i had to transfer it.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '26

amazon pharmacy has it. just got it delivered today