Jakavi likely to undergo full assessment in Germany
Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) and Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) both estimate that Orphan drug Jakavi ruxolitinib will cost the German statutory health insurance funds (GKV) more than EUR 50 million per year. Thus, the myelofibrosis drug is likely to undergo a full benefit assessment once it has a year of German sales under its belt. In August, the European Commission approved Jakavi to treat chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis. Novartis, which has exclusive ex-U.S. rights to the oral Janus kinase-1 (JAK-1) and JAK-2 inhibitor from Incyte Corp. (NASDAQ:INCY), could not be reached for comment on possible comparators. Incyte was up $0.01 to $16.06 on Monday. ...