ICER offers policy recommendations in final report for cystic fibrosis drugs

ICER released its final evidence report June 7 on CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) therapies that found that while Kalydeco ivacaftor, Orkambi ivacaftor/lumacaftor and Symdeko tezacaftor/ivacaftor offered a net benefit compared with supportive care alone, the three cystic fibrosis drugs would require discounts of over 70% off their wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) to bring prices in alignment with clinical value. The report offered policy recommendations including manufacturer restraint and more transparency to bring prices down and maintain patient access.

ICER's Midwest Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council (CEPAC) voted in a meeting May 17 that the long-term value was low for the three CF drugs from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTX) as some patients and payers voiced their frustration at the biotech's pricing of the therapies. Key recommendations in the final report follow the meeting's moderated policy discussion. ...