IQWiG assesses Signifor's cost
Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) said Cushing's disease drug Signifor pasireotide from Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) would cost the German statutory health insurance funds (GKV) EUR 8.6-EUR 19.3 million ($11.2-$25.2 million) per year. In an assessment requested by Germany's Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), IQWiG said there are about 159-357 Cushing's disease patients in Germany and said Signifor would cost EUR 53,977 ($70,758) per patient. Separately, G-BA also issued a preliminary assessment summarizing data for Signifor from marketing authorization studies, but did not issue a conclusion on Signifor's additional benefit. Novartis has until Oct. 8 to respond. G-BA's final assessment of the degree of additional benefit for Signifor is expected in early December. ...