Reduced dosage temptation for expensive Gaucher's drug

24 March 2008

A debate among US clinical experts in a rare inherited enzyme deficiency, Gaucher's disease, has flared up over physicians prescribing lower doses of a drug which, the New York Times claims, costs $300,000 per year for each patient at manufacturer-recommended dosages. The product at the center of the dispute is Massachusetts-based biotechnology firm Genzyme's blockbuster Cerezyme (imiglucerase for injection).

The NY Times report states that, for most patients, as little as one-fourth of the standard dose of the Gaucher's therapy would be effective. If true, this could generate savings of about $220,000 for some people. Unsurprisingly, patients who have been switched to lower-dose prescriptions of drugs, as well as payers, are concerned about the financial and medical effects of stronger and more expensive quantities of medicines being dispensed. In the case of Cerezyne, however, the evidence suggests that no harm is caused by taking the full dose, but that there are risks of cutting back treatment, according to Gregory Pastores, an expert on the condition at New York University.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK





Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight