America’s New Most Expensive Drug Reignites Debate Over How to Price Gene Therapies

December 8

The FDA on Nov. 22 approved Hemgenix (etranacogene dezaparvovec-drlb), the first gene therapy for adults with hemophilia B, a genetic bleeding disorder. CSL Behring, the medication’s commercial rights holder, set a list price of $3.5 million, making it the most expensive drug in the U.S.

That price exceeds the $2.96 million health benefit price threshold (HBPB) that the nonprofit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) determined recently in an evidence report, meaning it is not cost-effective according to the nonprofit’s guidelines.

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Radar on Drug Benefits

Tim Casey

Tim has been a reporter and editor for newspapers, websites and magazines for more than 20 years, including 10 years covering health care business topics. He has a deep knowledge of the managed care industry and pharmacy benefit management. He also has experience covering medical conferences and clinical and legislative health care issues. In 2014, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing selected Tim as one of 15 journalists to participate in a national symposium on the Affordable Care Act. Tim has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.