How much money will the new Eli Lily Alzheimer drug cost? The high price of Kisunla
The FDA has approved Eli Lily’s new Alzheimer drug, the first and only therapy that targets amyloid plaque buildup. Here’s what the treatment costs.
Doctors will have a new tool in their chest to treat Alzheimer’s disease after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Kisunla (donanemab-azbt) produced by Eli Lilly. The limited-duration therapy is the first and only that targets amyloid plaque buildup says the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company.
Donanemab, is a monoclonal antibody which has been approved for use in adults with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s that have a confirmed amyloid pathology. Kisunla treatment includes a once-monthly 30-minute infusion which can be stopped when amyloid plaques have been removed to minimal levels. Eli Lilly says that this could “result in lower treatment costs and fewer infusions.”
You may also be interested in: Microglia and the new hope for Alzheimer’s disease research
How much money will the new Eli Lily Alzheimer drug cost? The high price of Kisunla
Each 30-minute infusion would cost $695.65 before insurance according to an Eli Lilly press release. That would amount to $12,522 for a six-month course (6 infusions), $32,000 for a year (13 infusions) or $48,696 for an 18-month treatment (19 infusions).
The Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical company said that in the overall population of patients who participated in the clinical trials nearly half, 46%, completed their treatment at 12 months, 17% at 6 months and 69% at 18 months.
“This approval marks another step forward in evolving the standard of care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease that will ultimately include an arsenal of novel treatments, providing much needed hope to the Alzheimer’s community,” said Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF).
“As a physician, I am encouraged by the potential to stop treatment, which could reduce out-of-pocket costs and infusion burden for eligible patients,” added Fillit.
Patients’ out-of-pocket cost will depend on the length of treatment and their insurance. Under a National Coverage Determination with Coverage with Evidence Development, eligible patients on Medicare will be able to get coverage and reimbursement for Kisunla Eli Lilly said.