Health Care Rounds

#52: Our Take, June 3, 2019

Episode Summary

In this week’s episode, John reviews Novartis’ new gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, priced at more than $2.1 million. ICER, a nonprofit research institute that evaluates the cost effectiveness of pharmaceuticals, said Novartis’ price is within the upper bound of the organization’s value-based price benchmark range.

Episode Notes

In this week’s episode, John reviews Novartis’ new gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, priced at more than $2.1 million. ICER, a nonprofit research institute that evaluates the cost effectiveness of pharmaceuticals, said Novartis’ price is within the upper bound of the organization’s value-based price benchmark range.

Briefs include:

• A broad bipartisan draft health care legislation package containing dozens of provisions was recently released by the Senate Health Committee.
• Forcing oncology practices to take on downside risk in CMS’ Oncology Care Model in July could result in more than half of them owing the government.
• UnitedHealth Group pointed to price variations for diagnostic tests as a potential way to reduce overspending.
• Mallinckrodt plans to spin off its specialty generics business to shareholders.
• The FDA’s recent approval of Novartis’ Piqray (alpelisib).
• FDA clears a new wearable device to treat migraine.
• Biogen is scrapping its investigational treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, and is canceling its Phase III ENGAGE and EMERGE clinical trials.

About Darwin Research Group
Darwin Research Group Inc. provides advanced market intelligence and in-depth customer insights to health care executives, with a strategic focus on health care delivery systems and the global shift toward value-based care. Darwin’s client list includes forward-thinking biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as health care providers, private equity, and venture capital firms. The company was founded in 2010 as Darwin Advisory Partners, LLC and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. with a satellite office in Princeton, N.J.