Merck Zepatier Pricing
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/merck-revenue-and-profit-falls--update-20160203-00914
Merck set a list price for Zepatier of $54,600 a patient for a 12-week treatment, more than 30% below the listprices for competing drugs from Gilead and AbbVie Inc., though in line with net prices for those drugs after discounts,according to Merck.
Merck said it expects the price for Zepatier to maximize its revenue and market share, and to broaden patients'access to hepatitis C treatment. The list price could reduce out-of-pocket expenses for certain patients, such as thosecovered by the Medicare Part D drug benefit, versus competing drugs, Adam Schechter, Merck's head of human health, saidon a conference call.
Mr. Schechter didn't rule out providing discounts on Zepatier, saying Merck planned to "compete in all segments ofthe market and to have an appropriate discounting strategy that allows us to have access." He didn't specify themagnitude of any discounts. Bernstein analyst Tim Anderson said in a research note Wednesday he believes Merck isoffering a 15% discount off the list price to payers.
According to Merck spokeswoman Pam Eisele, "we expect [Zepatier's] price, as well as our comprehensive access strategy to seek broad coverage across commercial and public segments, will help broaden and accelerate patient access to treatment.”…….http://www.firstwordpharma.com/node/1354848?tsid=28®ion_id=2#axzz3z8MOkyDk…...we expect the launch of Zepatier to further drive net price reductions for all market participants."
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