A pharmaceutical industry watchdog group says that a new GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) asthma medicine is too costly to justify its value for patients, according to Reuters. The nonprofit Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) found that Nucala, GSK’s newly approved injectable medicine for reducing asthma attacks, should be reduced in price by about three quarters. For its part, GSK’s spokesperson, Sarah Spencer said, “We believe that Nucala is fairly priced, balancing innovation and market value with patient access.”
What Does Nucala Do for Asthma Patients?
According to the drug’s website, Nucala (mepolizumab), “helps prevent severe asthma attacks” by reducing a type of white blood cells called eosinophils. These cells are a possible contributor to asthma. Nucala is administered monthly via an injection from a healthcare provider.
What is Nucala’s Current Price?
ICER’s report suggested a price 76% lower than the current list price of $32,500/year to make it “reasonably priced” for patients. The price drop would mean that patients would be paying between $650 to $1,000 per month for Nucala versus the current price of $2,708/month. Nucala was approved for use by the FDA in November 2015.
ICER found that the overall effectiveness of Nucala didn’t justify the high cost to patients. London-based GSK has declined to reveal how much Nucala cost to develop or the production cost.
What Is ICER?
ICER is a Boston-based nonprofit organization, founded in 2007 by Dr. Steven D. Pearson, whose aim is “to improve patient care and control costs.” They accomplish this goal through independent reviews of research studies. In addition to the review of the GlaxoSmithKline asthma medicine price, recent news from ICER includes testing of a diabetes medication and the rising cost of drugs for heart failure and cholesterol.
The “Social Media” Effect
The call to lower Nucala’s price comes on the heels of a recent social media scandal caused when Martin Shkreli, former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, arbitrarily raised the cost of a $1/pill drug by over 4,000%. Presidential candidates former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders joined in the outcry against price gouging. The public outrage forced the company to fire Shkreli and reduce the price of the drug.
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