With Tysabri's re-approval now secured, and an expected re-launch date in the United States of July 2006, Elan and Biogen announced a significant price hike for the controversial but exciting new therapy.
The wholesale price will be, brace yourself, $2184.62 per vial. One vial entails one treatment, and 13 vials will be needed per year (assuming an infusion every 4 weeks). This yields a total price of $28,400 per year wholesale! For those keeping track, this represents a nearly 21 percent price increase versus the original wholesale price at launch in November of 2004.
"The increase takes account of...
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...general price inflation in competing MS therapies in the intervening period, and also the additional costs associated with the risk-map," Jack Gorman of Davy Stockbrokers said.
Clearly, few if any individuals can afford to pay this price, and so the sponsoring companies do have an alternative means of acquiring the therapy:
"Elan and Biogen Idec are committed to making TYSABRI accessible to appropriate patients who may benefit from therapy. To achieve this goal, programs have been developed to assist patients who are uninsured or who require financial assistance. Patients who require financial assistance can receive more information by calling MS ActiveSource at 1-800-456-2255. "
References:
Elan's Tysabri Pricing Information
Elan Raises Price for Tysabri Drug
