Novartis’ new MS drug to cost $88,000 a year
pharmafile | March 27, 2019 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | FDA, MS, Novartis, Novartis pharmaceuticals, multiple sclerosis
Paul Hudson, the CEO of Swiss firm Novartis Pharmaceuticals has said the company’s newly approved multiple sclerosis (MS) drug will cost $88,000 a year.
The drug, which won FDA approval on 26 March for patients with active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), is the first and only treatment to be approved in that specific indication in more than 15 years.
Mayzent is a synthetic derivative of Novartis’ Gilenya which the company has modified in an attempt to reduce side effects such as slow heart rate.
Gilenya currently generates $3.34 billion in sales for Novartis each year. However Mayzent is targeted towards older patients who have transitioned from relapsing to a state of SPMS, during which period their condition gradually deteriorates.
Sales of Mayzent are expected to reach $800 million by 2022, according to the median estimate of six analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
At a cost of $88,000 per annum, the drug will be more expensive than Roche’s MS drug Ocrevus which costs just $65,000 a year.
“One of the most important aims of MS treatment is delaying disability progression and preserving cognition,” said Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals.
“With Mayzent, SPMS patients with active disease will have access to the first effective oral therapy directed towards disease progression, even when MS transitions to a stage where deterioration is less dependent on the usual relapse activity.”
“Mayzent is a testament to the Novartis mission to reimagine medicine. We are delighted that our ongoing commitment to stop MS has led to a much awaited treatment for these patients in need.”
Louis Goss
Related Content
Novartis receives SMC approval for early breast cancer treatment
Novartis has announced that its treatment for early breast cancer, Kisqali (ribociclib), has received approval …
Rethinking oncology trial endpoints with generalised pairwise comparisons
For decades, oncology trials have been anchored to a familiar set of endpoints. Overall survival …
Alto Neuroscience’s schizophrenia treatment granted FDA Fast Track designation
Alto Neuroscience has announced that its investigational treatment for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) …
