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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Most
expensive medicine - world record set by Soliris
CHESTIRE, CT, USA -- Soliris,
a drug made by Alexion
Pharmaceuticals, which is given intravenously to treat
a rare disorder in which the immune system destroys red blood
cells at night, costs $409,500 a year -setting the world record
for the Most
expensive medicine.
The disorder, paroxysymal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
(PNH), hits 8,000 Americans. Patients do not have to dig that
deep to pay for the drugs. Insurance covers
most of the costs - and there is help with high co-payments
or for those with no insurance.
Alexion
spokesman Irving Adler said the high price of Soliris
reflects several factors, "including an $800 million investment
to develop the drug," as well as a 15-year investment of time.
In March 2007, Soliris
was approved by the FDA for the treatment of the blood disease
paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, or PNH. In June 2007,
the European Commission approved the drug for PNH patients
in 29 countries.
Last year Soliris
sales were $295 million. Since Alexion started selling Soliris
two years ago, its stock price is up 130%.
Three other drugs cost more than $350,000
per year.
Shire Pharmaceuticals' ( SHPGY) Elaprase ($375,000
per year) treats an ultra-rare metabolic disorder called Hunter's
syndrome.
Just 500 Americans suffer from the disease,
which causes infections, breathing problems and brain damage.
Last year domestic sales of Elaprase were $353 million.
Naglazyme from BioMarin Pharmaceuticals
treats another rare metabolic disorder and costs $365,000
a year, according to investment bank Robert W. Baird.
Viropharma predicts that sales of its Cinryze,
a treatment to prevent a dangerous swelling of the face, will
increase from $95 million last year to $350 million several
years from now. The drug costs an estimated $350,000 a year.
Unlike pills that come in standard doses,
all the most expensive drugs are injected biotech drugs whose
dosing varies by weight or other factors.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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