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A US drugmaker offers to cure rare blindness for $850,000
CNBC ^ | 01/03/2018 | Meg Tirrell

Posted on 01/03/2018 8:15:44 PM PST by SeekAndFind

* Spark Therapeutics' Luxturna will cost $850,000 for a one-time treatment.

* The gene therapy treats a rare, inherited retinal disease that can lead to blindness.

* Spark also unveiled a set of payment and access programs, including tying payments to how well the therapy works and exploring payment by installment.

The treatment is delivered just once, a facet of gene therapy that poses unique pricing questions in an industry fueled by steady payments for chronic therapies.

"It's wildly expensive but, to be very frank, I think they've priced it what I'll call responsibly," said Dr. Steve Miller, chief medical officer of pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts, which is partnering with Spark on distribution and specialty pharmacy services for Luxturna. "The product is just phenomenally innovative, and we've been talking about gene therapy for over 20 years. We're now at the threshold of having gene therapy reaching patients."

Wall Street expectations for Luxturna's price were around a million dollars, and Spark's $425,000 for each eye comes in under that mark.

* These programs could serve as a model as more one-time treatments come to market.

The first gene therapy in the U.S. now has a price tag: $850,000 for the one-time treatment, or, more specifically, $425,000 per eye for a retinal disorder.

The price is for Spark Therapeutics' Luxturna, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December to treat a rare, inherited retinal disease that can lead to blindness. The Philadelphia-based biotechnology company also revealed Wednesday morning a set of payment and access programs, including tying payments to how well the therapy works and exploring payment by installment.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnbc.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: blindness; cure

1 posted on 01/03/2018 8:15:44 PM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Not to worry. Zuckerberg will pay for everyone who needs one.


2 posted on 01/03/2018 8:17:18 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: SeekAndFind

What’s happening here is Luxterna trying to set pricing for Medicaid/Medicare, so it can be paid by the one entity with unlimited money.

If Government doesn’t pay for it, the price will come to a level where patients and the supplier can maximize the good it does.


3 posted on 01/03/2018 8:18:48 PM PST by PGR88
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To: SeekAndFind

Designer genes...


4 posted on 01/03/2018 8:21:36 PM PST by Crucial
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To: BenLurkin

Only for illegals and criminal minorities.


5 posted on 01/03/2018 8:25:07 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: SeekAndFind

So the future is gene therapy no one can afford.

Again, modern medicine not surprising me one bit.

You think they will give away the cures for cancer(s) or diabetes?


6 posted on 01/03/2018 8:28:59 PM PST by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Just wait until Costco comes out with their version for half price. You can probably get samples in aisle 3 next to the toilet paper.


7 posted on 01/03/2018 8:30:00 PM PST by gubamyster
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To: SeekAndFind

This is customized genetically to the patient. So each batch is a single batch that will work only for that one patient. And it is a rare disorder so there is not a customer base of millions and its also a one-time treatment, so no repeat sales for maintenance or continued therapy.

All of this is in the pricing. You aren’t paying for the medication per se, but the high tech genetic customization.


8 posted on 01/03/2018 8:38:53 PM PST by Valpal1 (I am grown weary.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Disgraceful. A person who would say that is fair pricing has left their humanity far behind. Perhaps a stint of blindness is in order for them so they can develop some empathy & compassion.


9 posted on 01/03/2018 8:39:30 PM PST by JayGalt (Let Trump Be Trump)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Go to prison for a few years and have the State pick up the cost as they do for breast implants for men while you live rent free.


10 posted on 01/03/2018 9:17:28 PM PST by a fool in paradise (Did Barack Obama denounce Communism and dictatorships when he visited Cuba as a puppet of the State?)
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To: SeekAndFind

Does not pass the smell test to me.


11 posted on 01/03/2018 9:31:00 PM PST by HChampagne (Cruz supporter but I will support and vote for Trump.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Not sure the cure is worth 850,000.

I think I got a hand on this though...


12 posted on 01/03/2018 11:16:53 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
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