FDA approves first treatment for rare cancer, priced at $186K per year

The FDA approved Jan. 23 Epizyme’s drug, Tazverik, the first treatment that specifically targets a rare form of cancer that often affects young adults.

Advertisement

Tazverik treats epithelioid sarcoma, a rare form of soft tissue cancer, by stopping cancer cells from spreading. 

The FDA said that half of patients who have the rare cancer have a metastatic form by the time they are diagnosed, meaning it has spread to other parts of their body, which can be life-threatening. 

Epizyme, a Massachusetts-based drugmaker, priced Tazverik at $15,500 per month, or $186,000 for a year’s supply, according to Endpoints News

The FDA is requiring Tazverik to be dispensed with a medication guide that details the risks associated with the treatment, and it is only approved for patients over 16 years. 

Read the full news release here

More articles on pharmacy:
BCBS, Civica Rx create subsidiary to cut generic drug costs
PhRMA spent a record $29M on lobbying in 2019
Former Insys CEO gets 30 months in prison

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

The Performance Gap Your Pharmacy Training Metrics Can’t See

Monday, August 10
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Michael Alexander, AudirieDr. Tina Moen, PharmD, Colibri Healthcare

Advertisement

Next Up in Pharmacy

Advertisement

Comments are closed.