January 11, 2023
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Disclosure:
Reynolds does not report related financial disclosures. See research for relevant financial disclosures of all other authors.
Despite the many new drugs being produced to treat a variety of neurological disorders, a study published in 2014 found that their availability is limited because they are relatively expensive and work as well as cheaper drugs. It has been. neurology.
“The number of medicines prescribed by neurologists and the price of generic medicines have remained largely stable, but prices are rising due to the high price of multiple sclerosis medicines and rising prices of branded medicines.” Dr. Evan L. Reynoldsof the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan, and by colleagues.
Recent studies have found that the use of new drugs for various neurological disorders is limited due to their relatively high cost. Source: Adobe Stock
The researchers aimed to compare the cost and use of newly released drugs for neurological conditions to older drugs supported by evidence-based AAN guidance.
They collected information from the healthcare drug claims database from 2001 to 2019 and identified 11 neurological conditions (orthostatic hypotension, spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne disease, Parkinson’s disease, MS, ALS, severe myasthenia, Huntington’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, transthyretin amyloidosis, migraine) and any new or existing drug for that condition approved by the FDA between 2014 and 2018.
Researchers calculated both the 30-day out-of-pocket and standardized total costs for each drug each year, and compared the individual calculated the percentage of
Results showed limited use of new drugs compared with existing drugs (<20% in all but one condition). It was highest in patients with Duchenne disease (19.8%), Huntington's disease (19.5%), transthyretin amyloidosis (17.3%) and lowest in PD patients (2.9%) who received monoamine oxidase B inhibitors. ) and patients with migraine (2.1%), orthostatic hypotension (1.8%) and MS (1.6%).
In addition, researchers found that out-of-pocket and standardized total costs were significantly higher for the newer drugs, with costs for a 30-day supply in 2019 higher than edaravone ($712.80; range, $59.80 to $802), eculizumab ( $91.10; range, $3-$3,216.40) and valbenazine ($72; range, $18-$518).
“For new, expensive drugs with similar efficacy to older drugs, limited use is likely appropriate.” Brian C. Callahan, MD, MS, He is also a professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Michigan and co-author of the study, said a related release. “Future studies are needed to find out if high cost is a barrier to new drugs that could really make a difference for people with neurological disorders.”
