Colorado was the first state to cap a drug’s price – then a federal court stepped in

The pharmaceutical company Amgen argues that Colorado's price cap interferes with federal patent law. philipdyer/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Colorado is one of a handful of states with a review board for drug prices and one of only four with a board empowered to set upper limits on what state agencies, insurers and other purchasers may pay or be reimbursed for certain high-cost drugs dispensed to patients in the state.

In fall 2025, the Colorado board capped Enbrel, an immunosuppressant drug made by Amgen used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions, at US$600 per weekly dose. That’s about $31,200 per year, which is much less than the approximately $53,000 the average Colorado health plan paid for the drug in 2023.