Biogen’s Breakthrough Alzheimer’s Drug May Not Reach Patients Amid Cost and Access Impediments

Biogen awaits the Food and Drug Administration’s decision regarding its Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab. This drug would be the first on the market in its class. However, despite widespread interest from patients and their families, accessing the drug remains challenging. Aducanumab may cost $30,000 per year, patients need to obtain access early during dementia, and patients need to live near infusion centers, meaning many the millions of Americans eligible for the drug will not be able to receive infusions.

“Among the questions ahead: How will Medicare and private health plans reimburse for the medication? How will eligible patients be identified? Will there be enough capacity at infusion sites and imaging centers to meet demand? And how will doctors assess patients’ progress on a drug whose only claim is to slow the rate of disease, when that rate can vary naturally?” Read more here.

(Source: John Tozzi, Bloomberg, 5/24/21)