The U.S. government limited Medicare coverage of Biogen Inc.’s Alzheimer’s disease treatment and similar drugs to patients enrolled in clinical trials, a highly unusual move that will curb access to the controversial treatment approved last year.
Coverage of Biogen’s therapy, sold under the brand name Aduhelm, and other amyloid-targeted Alzheimer’s therapies, will be limited to people participating in qualified clinical trials, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said in a statement Tuesday.
The decision is preliminary and will be followed by a 30-day public comment period. A final determination is due in April. The policy will set national rules for how Medicare treats Aduhelm and similar drugs that may follow.