Novartis’ Cosentyx Joins Colorado’s List of ‘Unaffordable’ Drugs

The top-selling arthritis and psoriasis drug from Novartis AG is “unaffordable” for Colorado patients, the state’s drug affordability board said Friday in a vote that added the medication to a group of treatments that could see limits on what health plans pay.

Four members of the Colorado Prescription Drug Affordability Board approved the determination for Cosentyx, the final drug among the five medications for which the board conducted cost reviews. One board member, oncologist Sami Diab, recused himself from the vote due to a conflict.

Cosentyx, which is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active ...