Medicare officials do not plan at this time to change payment terms for anemia drugs used in kidney patients who are undergoing dialysis.
The agency, which is slated to issue a final decision on the matter in June, also said it has found no clear proof that the drugs provide clinical benefits other than increasing hemoglobin.
Endorsement of current reimbursement guidelines would benefit shares of Amgen Inc, which rakes in billions from sales of its flagship Epogen anemia drug for treatment of kidney dialysis patients.