Luján Applauds a $35 Cap Commitment on Future “Green” Inhalers by AstraZeneca

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP Committee), applauded AstraZeneca for its commitment to cap the cost of any future “green” inhalers at $35.

In January, Luján and members of the HELP Committee launched an investigation into the four major manufacturers of inhalers and their efforts to raise prices far higher in America than countries abroad. In response to that investigation, three of the four manufacturers—Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, and GSK—committed to cap patient out-of-pocket costs for their brand-name inhalers at $35. AstraZeneca’s and Boehringer Ingelheim’s caps went into effect June 1 and are already saving patients hundreds of dollars every month. GSK’s cap will go into effect no later than January 1, 2025. As of 2024, 25 million Americans with asthma and 16 million Americans with COPD need inhalers to breathe.

“No New Mexican should ever be forced to ration life-saving medication just to make ends meet,” said Senator Luján. “This announcement from AstraZeneca is important progress that will impact millions of Americans who rely on inhalers to breathe. I will continue to work with my HELP Committee colleagues to ensure New Mexicans can afford their medication without breaking the bank.”

Two of the four manufacturers, AstraZeneca and GSK, have announced plans to introduce a new, environmentally-friendly type of inhaler. These inhalers were expected to be extremely expensive, placing them out of reach for millions of Americans. However, AstraZeneca has now committed to extending its $35 cap on patient out-of-pocket costsfor its current branded inhalers to its next generation, near-zero carbon propellent versions, once they are approved and sold on the market.

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