STAT+: Pharmalittle: FDA OKs new kind of drug to treat hot flashes; Alzheimer’s drug could cost Medicare up to $5 billion a year
The FDA approved a new kind of drug to treat hot flashes, which could offer relief to women who do not want to take hormone therapy.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new kind of drug to treat moderate to severe hot flashes caused by menopause, which could offer relief to millions of women who do not want to take hormone therapy to treat their symptoms, CBS News says. The once-a-day pill, called Veozah, blocks a chemical in the brain that affects how body temperature is regulated. As many as 80% of women face hot flashes as they age into their 40s and 50s. One study found that up to 46% of women experienced moderate or severe hot flashes for years. The list price for the pill is $550 for a 30-day supply, and it is expected to be available in pharmacies within three weeks.
Widespread coverage of the Alzheimer’s drug Leqembi would raise future costs for the U.S. Medicare health plan by $2 billion to $5 billion a year, Reuters writes, citing a new study. The drug, sold by Eisai and Biogen at an annual list price of $26,500, was approved this year under the FDA’s accelerated pathway. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services currently covers the medication only for patients enrolled in clinical trials. CMS will broaden coverage if Leqembi and similar drugs were to receive standard FDA approval. The FDA is slated to decide by July 6 whether to grant standard approval based on evidence of Leqembi’s clinical efficacy.
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