On November 23, Australian pharmaceutical company CSL announced a list price of $3.5 million per dose for its gene therapy drug designed to treat Hemophilia B, according to Reuters.
After receiving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 22, Hemgenix will be marketed by CSL in the U.S. (Image: Reuters).
Following FDA approval on November 22, the listed price for Hemgenix is set at $3.5 million per dose. This makes it the most expensive drug in the world at present.
“We are confident that this price will help save healthcare costs for the healthcare system and reduce the economic burden on patients with Hemophilia B,” said CSL in a statement.
According to Reuters, while CSL has set the price of the drug at $3.5 million, depending on individual circumstances, patients may not have to pay the full amount.
Joseph Thome, an analyst at investment bank Cowen, noted that CSL’s price is higher than their estimated price of $1.9 million. However, Cowen’s advisors remain optimistic about the positive impacts the drug could bring.
CSL Behring, a division of CSL, will begin the process of marketing Hemgenix in the U.S.
Hemgenix is the first gene therapy drug for treating Hemophilia B. With a single administration, this treatment provides a long-term solution for patients, as opposed to the frequent injections required by other treatments developed by pharmaceutical companies like Biogen and Pfizer.
Hemophilia B affects 1 in every 40,000 people and is caused by a gene mutation that impacts the production of factor IX, which is associated with the X chromosome in the body.
With a price of $3.5 million, Hemgenix by CSL is the most expensive drug in the world. (Image: CSL Behring).
The Hemgenix gene therapy developed by CSL involves a specially designed virus that carries a gene to the liver, enabling the body to produce factor IX.
Prior to Hemgenix, in August and September, the FDA also approved two other gene therapy drugs, Zynteglo and Skysona, developed by biotech company Bluebird. Zynteglo is priced at $2.8 million, while Skysona has a wholesale price of $3 million.
