27 January 2018 - A costly new Roche Holding AG drug to treat the bleeding disorder haemophilia A could significantly reduce healthcare expenses for certain patients, a draft report from an independent U.S. nonprofit organisation that evaluates clinical and cost effectiveness of new medicines said on Friday.

The drug, Hemlibra, or emicizumab, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in November as a once-weekly injection for adults and pediatric patients with haemophilia A who have developed inhibitors, or resistance, to other treatments. Roche’s medicine is required to carry a black box warning, the most serious, about the risk of blood clots.

The ICER found that, for such patients aged 12 years and older, emicizumab at current wholesale prices would reduce spending by around $1.85 million per patient annually. In patients under 12 years of age, emicizumab would reduce costs by about $720,000 per patient annually.

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