Posted by Michael Wonder on 15 Jul 2021
Aduhelm may not cure Alzheimer’s, but it might help fix drug prices
17 July 2021 - The controversial drug is so expensive that it has attracted the interest of Congress.
When a long-awaited drug for Alzheimer’s was approved by the FDA last month, controversy quickly followed. In November ten of 11 members of an FDA expert panel rejected the treatment, but it received accelerated approval anyway. Three panel members resigned in protest.
It also has a large price tag: about $41,000 for year one and $56,000 for subsequent years. The unusual approval process and high cost has sparked a congressional investigation into the developer’s business practices. The treatment is also becoming the focus of new legislation which, if passed, would allow the government to negotiate drug prices for federal health-insurance plans.
