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

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  • 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.

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