850,000 $ against blindness: a gene therapy reserved for the rich

A very sophisticated drug against blindness will sell for nearly $ 850,000 in the United States. A model more and more widespread in the pharmaceutical world. To compensate, the laboratories consider phased payments and pay back the patients in case of failure.

Two-speed medicine has never been so close. The Luxturna®, new treatment risks, for the moment, to be reserved for the rich. This drug against blindness is becoming the most expensive treatment in the world with an estimated dose per eye estimated at $ 425,000.

Its maker Spark Therapeutics, based in Philadelphia, insists that only one dose per eye is needed. Only $ 850,000 will be required ...

The laboratory knew that a shower of criticism awaited him when he revealed the exorbitant price of the treatment. To facilitate "access to all", a phased payment will be offered to patients.

Rare, innovative and refundable

It is actually a gene therapy: it aims to repair the gene that causes blindness. Although little seems to justify such a price when it comes to caring for people, the Philadelphia team defends its product relentlessly.

First, there are very few patients with the genetic abnormality involved in this treatment. In fact, 1,000 people are currently eligible for this drug and only 10 to 20 cases per year will be added. Also, the manufacturers defend an unprecedented technology, representing a great innovation.

These two concrete arguments are concreted by a trick of the Pennsylvania laboratory. As they sell the product at an unreasonable amount for almost all citizens, they promise a refund in case of failure of treatment. A drug close to a million dollars yes, but only if it works!

An approach that will have to be adapted: in hematological cancers, the RAC-T cells that rescue patients with refractory leukemias or lymphomas, will also be billed close to a million dollars.

By benjamin badach