Novartis said yesterday that Zolgensma — the gene therapy that's the most expensive drug in the world — brought in $186 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, STAT reports.
Why it matters: It suggests that the drug's enormous price tag isn't blocking patients from accessing it, although the costs are ultimately borne through premiums and by taxpayers.
By the numbers: About 200 patients have been treated with Zolgensma since it launched in June, Novartis said.
- The company said it has reimbursement agreements that cover 97% of commercially-insured patients and 50% of Medicaid patients.
Go deeper: A new multimillion dollar drug