Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Breakthrough Eczema Treatment Won't Come Cheap
The New York Times: Severe Eczema Drug Is Approved By F.D.A.; Price Tag Is $37,000 A Year
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved a drug to treat people with a serious form of eczema, a potential breakthrough for people who have suffered for years without relief. But it will not come cheap. The drug, to be called Dupixent, will carry a list price of $37,000 a year, a hefty price tag for patients who are increasingly being asked to pay a larger share of the drugs they take. (Thomas, 3/28)
Boston Globe: Sanofi Genzyme Wins Approval For Breakthrough Drug To Treat Severe Form Of Eczema
Sanofi Genzyme won its biggest drug approval in years Tuesday when US regulators gave the green light to a medicine to treat forms of eczema that can cause intense itching and bleeding. The injectable drug, with the brand name Dupixent, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by adults with moderate to severe eczema. Sanofi Genzyme, based in Cambridge, developed the treatment with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y. The companies will market it jointly. (Weisman, 3/28)
The Associated Press: FDA Approves 1st Drug For Moderate & Severe Eczema Cases
The drug is an antibody that patients inject just under the skin every two weeks. It binds to a specific protein to inhibit the immune system’s inflammatory response. That’s why in many study participants, Dupixent also improved the asthma and hayfever common in eczema patients. It’s now in late-stage patient testing as an allergy treatment. (Johnson, 3/28)
The Wall Street Journal: FDA Approves Regeneron And Sanofi’s Dupixent For Eczema
Dupixent will be one of the most closely watched drug launches this year, with analysts projecting it could reach $3.13 billion in global annual sales in 2020 if it gains favorable insurance coverage, according to analysts polled by FactSet. (Walker, 3/28)
For more news on high drug costs, check out our weekly feature, Prescription Drug Watch, which includes coverage and perspectives of the issue.
The New York Times: F.D.A. Approves First Drug To Treat Severe Multiple Sclerosis
The Food and Drug Administration approved on Tuesday the first drug to treat a severe form of multiple sclerosis, offering hope to patients who previously had no other options to combat a relentless disease that leads to paralysis and cognitive decline. The federal agency also cleared the drug to treat people with the more common, relapsing form of the disease. (Thomas, 3/28)
The Wall Street Journal: FDA Approves Drug For Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
“This is an historic day for the MS community with the approval of the first-ever treatment for people living with primary progressive MS. This is a real game-changer,” said Cyndi Zagieboylo, president and chief executive of the National MS Society. “The National MS Society hopes this is just the beginning of the development of the next generation of treatments for MS.” (Burton, 3/28)
In other news on the FDA —
The Wall Street Journal: FDA Nominee Plans Recusals From Decisions On Many Drug Firms
The Trump administration’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration plans to recuse himself for a year from FDA decisions on more than 20 companies, including some drug giants. Scott Gottlieb in recent years has held positions and received millions of dollars in income as adviser, executive, paid speaker or consultant to the companies, according to financial-disclosure documents he has filed with government ethics officials. (Burton, 3/29)
