Price set for obesity drug Qsymia

Vivus Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) set the wholesale acquisition cost for once-daily obesity drug Qsymia phentermine/topiramate at $120 per month for the lowest dose and $183.90 per month for the highest dose, according to the Red Book. The company is set to launch the drug, which was approved in July, next quarter for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater, or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater who have at least one weight-related condition.

Analysts have speculated that physicians would potentially prescribe the cheaper generic components of Qsymia to patients who will most likely be paying out-of-pocket. According to the Red Book, generic phentermine and topiramate at doses roughly equivalent to the lowest Qsymia dose would have a monthly wholesale acquisition cost of around $20. Generic doses roughly equivalent to the highest Qsymia dose would have an average cost of over $30 (see BioCentury, Aug. 6). ...