Bluebird Details Plan to Make Zynteglo Accessible in US
18 August 2022 - 5:30AM
Dow Jones News
By Kathryn Hardison
Bluebird bio Inc. said Wednesday that it is working on making
its Zynteglo therapy accessible in the U.S., following its approval
from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The agency approved the therapy Wednesday, which is designed for
the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia
who require regular red blood cell transfusion.
Bluebird said that it has set the wholesale acquisition cost of
Zynteglo at $2.8 million. In comparison, bluebird said that the
lifetime cost of medical care for patients under current standards
of care in the U.S. can reach $6.4 million because patients with
transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia typically require
transfusions every two to five weeks. The company estimated that
there are 1,300 to 1,500 people with transfusion-dependent
beta-thalassemia in the country.
Bluebird also said that it is in late-stage negotiations with
commercial payers, including pharmacy benefit managers with the
potential to represent dozens of plans. The company is also working
with state Medicaid agencies.
The company is also planning to offer an agreement that requires
bluebird to reimburse contracted commercial and government payers
up to 80% of the cost of the therapy if the patient fails to
achieve and maintain transfusion independence up to two years
following the treatment. This would require a one-time, upfront
payment.
Shares gained 11% to $7.30 in afternoon trading.
Write to Kathryn Hardison at kathryn.hardison@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 17, 2022 15:15 ET (19:15 GMT)
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