NICE Asks Alexion for More Soliris Price Analysis

The UK’s drug costs watchdog, known as NICE, is asking Alexion Pharmaceuticals for more information that can justify the hefty price tag for its drug Soliris as proposed to treat patients with atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome (aHUS).

NICE’s initial evaluation of Soliris (eculizumab) notes the drug is an effective treatment for aHUS. However, the watchdog says the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has made it available on an interim basis pending regulatory approval. NICE notes that Soliris would cost patients more than $800,000 per year and would impact NHS’ about $96 million in the first year.

To help inform its final appraisal of the drug, NICE is asking Alexion for more information explaining the company’s own analysis of the drug’s cost. The UK regulator did not request additional clinical effectiveness information, the company said Monday.

Read NICE’s evaluation at www.fdanews.com/ext/resources/files/03/03-05-14-Soliris.pdf. — Lena Freund

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