Aduhelm would be cost-effective at $3K-$8K instead of $56K, ICER says

Aduhelm's annual list price would be cost-effective at $3,000 to $8,400, a range representing a 85-95 percent discount from its current $56,000 annual price, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review said in a June 30 report.

On June 7, the FDA approved Biogen's Alzheimer's drug aducanumab, sold under the brand name Aduhelm, marking the first approval the agency has granted to an Alzheimer's treatment since 2003. Aduhelm is the first treatment approved by the FDA intended to slow cognitive decline from Alzheimer's disease, as the Alzheimer's drugs the FDA previously cleared are aimed at alleviating symptoms rather than slowing the disease's progression.

The approval sparked an intense debate in the pharmaceutical and medical communities, with critics saying there was not enough evidence of clinical benefits to warrant an approval. Three members of the FDA's advisory committee resigned over the approval, and two House committees are investigating the drug's pricing and approval.

In addition to its criticism of Aduhelm's pricing, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review expressed doubt about whether the drug can slow the progression of Alzheimer's or improve cognition.

"After months of delving into the data, and working with patient groups, clinical experts, and the manufacturer to gain their perspectives, our judgment remains that the evidence on aducanumab is insufficient to be able to demonstrate that patients get benefits that would outweigh the risks and harms of this treatment," David Rind, MD, the watchdog group's chief medical officer, said in a news release.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars