G-BA assesses Constella, Jetrea

Germany's Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) issued final benefit assessments for Constella linaclotide from Almirall S.A. (Madrid:ALM) and Jetrea ocriplasmin from ThromboGenics N.V. (Euronext:THR). G-BA said Constella has "no additional benefit" for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) vs. a change in diet and symptom-specific treatment, G-BA's requested comparator. The decision is in line with an August preliminary assessment from Germany's Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Healthcare (IQWiG). Almirall has exclusive rights to Constella in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:IRWD) (see BioCentury Extra, Aug. 1).

Drugs that do not have an additional benefit are added to the reference pricing system, which gives a similar base price to therapeutically comparable drugs. If there is no reference, companies negotiate a price no higher than that of the lowest-cost alternative in the indication. ...