Federal judge halts Colorado price cap on Amgen's Enbrel drug

A U.S. district judge issued an injunction that stops the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board from imposing a payment limit on Enbrel, a high-volume biologic sold by Amgen. The court found the company would likely suffer significant harm if the cap were enforced.

The ruling puts on hold Colorado's pioneering effort to set upper payment limits for selected medicines, a program created four years ago to address rising prescription costs. While other states have established similar affordability boards, Colorado has moved more quickly in targeting drugs it deems unaffordable.

Industry observers see the decision as a win for pharmaceutical manufacturers, who argue that price caps could undermine investment and innovation. The pause also leaves the price of Enbrel unchanged for Colorado residents pending further legal action.