Here's the good news: there's a better drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers since it has a more long-lasting effect. The bad news is that it comes at a high cost-literally.
The biotech company called Biogen Idec Incorporated has already found huge success on MS drugs, most notably, Avonex. It is an injectable that should be administered once a week to MS sufferers.
However, they have created a better drug whose effects last for a much longer period. This drug known as Plegridy isn't so different from Avonex except that since the patient's exposure to its potency is longer, sufferers don't need to take it once a week. This is because it has an added component called polyethylene glycol. Those who are going to shift to this new drug may only have to take it once every 2 weeks. Moreover, patients use an autoinjector, which means the syringe is already pre-filled with the Plegridy, ensuring that they get the correct dose.
Plegridy had undergone a comprehensive 2-year clinical trial to prove its safety and efficacy. So far, it's already approved by the Drug and Food Administration as well as in more than 25 countries.
However, there's a catch: it comes at quite a hefty price tag. Kate Niazi-Sai, the spokeswoman of the firm, confirmed that Plegridy will be available for more than $62,000 annually, which makes it several thousand dollars higher than the MS tablet Tecfidera, which is also produced by Biogen.
The company, nevertheless, justified the huge cost as part of paying for innovation. Besides, MS sufferers still have the option to continue Avonex since the company doesn't have any plans of stopping its production anytime soon. Biogen makes it clear, though, that they hope with the new drug, those who are in Avonex will eventually shift to Plegridy and that there will be no complications when they do so.
While many breakthrough drugs are being produced, the issue of their very high prices always cloud their effectiveness. Sovaldi, a drug produced by Gilead Sciences for hepatitis C patients, costs a thousand dollar a day while a treatment that's good for 3 months is worth over $80,000.