Clarivate’s ‘drugs to watch’ list signals high prices to come
Clarivate Analytics has released its annual “drug to watch” list, compiled through its Cortellis database of life sciences-focused research and development data.
The list is a compilation of 11 drugs that are expected to go to market in 2020 and acquire ‘blockbuster status’ (achieve sales of $1 billion or more by 2024).
Celgene, a Bristol-Myers Squibb subsidiary, accounts for two of the 11 drugs, including multiple sclerosis (MS) drug ozanimod, and large B-cell lymphoma treatment Liso-cel (lisocabtagene maraleucel).
Also present is inclisiran, the experimental cholesterol drug acquired by Novartis in its $9.7 billion purchase of The Medicines Company last month.
More than half of the 11 are biologic drugs, the high cost of which is expected to be subject to scrutiny by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
California-based biotechnology company BioMarin Pharmaceutical makes the list with its highly-anticipated drug, valrox.
According to Clarivate, the haemophilia A drug could become the “most expensive drug ever to reach the market”, with predicted costs of $2.5 million—$3 million per treatment.
Valrox is a “one-and-done” gene therapy purported to correct the genetic defect that causes haemophilia A, and eliminate the need for any further treatment.
It is among a new generation of one-off gene therapies that have attracted headlines for their high cost.
The Patients for Affordable Drugs campaign has hit out at Novartis over the $2,125,000 price tag on its Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) gene therapy, which was approved by the FDA last year.
Zolgensma, currently the world’s most expensive drug measured per dose, is a one-time injection which treats spinal muscular atrophy.
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