Replies to post #12253 on GTC Biotherapeutics (fka GTCB)

[DewDiligence]

Re: Price competition in CABG/HR?

>Will ATryn be able to compete on price vs the alternative(s) used for HR?<

A fair question; however, preventing HIT/HITTS in CABG/HR is not the kind of indication that will be unduly price-sensitive, IMO.

HIT/HITTS is a life-threatening condition where the approved drugs—Argatroban (a small-molecule thrombin inhibtor) and Refludan (a recombinant analog of a protein in leech saliva)—have major deficiencies. Only Argatroban is approved for HIT prophylaxis.

I don’t know what the typical hospital prices of the above drugs are. (A reserch project for someone?) Argatroban goes off-patent in the US in 2014 and a generic will presumably be launched soon thereafter. Refludan goes off-patent in the US in 2010, but I doubt that Refludan’s modest sales will be sufficient to attract interest in producing a biosimilar.

[biopearl]

According to my hosp pharmacy cost of Argratroban 2200 and Refludan aprox 900 per dose for 24 hours or less. I suspect this is without the usual hospital mark up but don't know for sure. Its a long way from Atryn (in HD) 20,000. bp