Hit By Slow Rollout, Biogen's Aduhelm Could Soon Find Itself In Price Competition: Reuters

With already a snail-paced rollout of Biogen Inc's BIIB controversial Alzheimer's treatment Aduhelm, the Company could soon face price competition.
Companies like Roche Holdings AG RHHBY and Eli Lilly And Co LLY are already lining up reviews for their own Alzheimer's candidates.
Even though Roche is still months out from a potential approval, the Company says it's planning to offer the drug at a steep discount to Aduhelm's hefty $56,000 price tag.
Roche's head of pharmaceuticals Bill Anderson told Reuters that its experimental Alzheimer's drug gantenerumab could be priced much lower than Aduhelm.
Anderson said Roche has taken similar action in the past, including for multiple sclerosis drug Ocrevus, which was launched at a price 30% below the standard of care.
Related Link: Roche's Alzheimer's Antibody Reduces Associated Biomarkers In Subset Of AD Patients, Study Shows.
A couple of days ago, Biogen said it was investigating the death of a 75-year-old patient potentially linked to Aduhelm.
The patient was diagnosed with cerebral edema thought to be ARIA-E, the most common adverse event in Biogen's two placebo-controlled trials used for the approval.
Though more than 80% of the ARIA-E events were resolved within 16 weeks.
Eli Lilly began a rolling FDA application for its experimental Alzheimer's drug. It could get U.S. approval by 2H of 2022.
Related: Citi Upgrades This Big Pharma Stock On Positive Alzheimer's Expectations.
Medicare expects to issue a final decision in April on its reimbursement policy, which will apply to all plaque-reducing agents.