GLP-1 therapies just got a whole lot less expensive for patients who pay out of pocket. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials are now available at rates similar to compounded versions of semaglutide. Patients can now access a four-week supply of Zepbound for as little as $399 for the 2.5 mg dose and $549 for…
Could Wegovy’s cardiovascular label expansion be a catalyst for GLP-1 obesity drug coverage?
The recent FDA approval of a cardiovascular risk reduction indication for Wegovy (semaglutide) could point toward a significant opportunity for pharma companies seeking to reshape payer perceptions and expand coverage for next-gen metabolic therapies. This regulatory shift, allowing Wegovy to be prescribed for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack…
Is the new $15,900 postpartum depression pill worth it?
Sage Therapeutics has pegged the wholesale acquisition price of the oral postpartum depression (PPD) drug Zurzuvae (zuranolone) at $15,900 for a 14-day course of the therapy. The drug, co-developed by Biogen, won the FDA green light in August. The companies plan on launching the drug in December. The DEA has classified zuranolone as Schedule IV,…
Prices of top 25 Medicare Part D drugs more than doubled since market entry; AARP offers new insights in drug pricing report
Medicare Part D drug prices have seen a significant surge in recent years. The price of the arthritis drug Enbrel has soared 701% since its launch in 1998, and the diabetes drug Januvia has jumped 275% since its debut 2006. All in all, the average price increase for the 25 brand-name drugs with the highest…
Big Pharma, it’s time to talk: Investors demand transparency on patent thickets
Pharmaceutical companies are running into pushback for their “patent thicket” tactics, designed to maintain exclusive rights and delay cheaper generics. The Financial Times reported that an ethical investor coalition is pushing for greater transparency and urging major drug makers to disclose their patent strategies. Unraveling the patent thicket mystery Patent thickets are a common intellectual property…