Biogen Prepares to Fight Medicare Over Alzheimer’s Drug Limits

Biogen Inc. executives vowed to fight hard to reverse Medicare’s preliminary decision that would sharply limit coverage of the company’s Alzheimer’s drug, while saying more cost cuts and strategic measures are possible if the decision stands.

The drugmaker is urging patients and physicians to show their disapproval with the proposal to restrict reimbursement for Aduhelm to patients in randomized controlled trials, officials said Thursday on a call with analysts. Only a small number of patients, perhaps in the hundreds, with the resources and time to travel to major hospitals conducting the trials, would get access to the drug under the rule, Chief Executive Officer Michel Vounatsos said.