Aug 11, 2021 - Health

VA won't cover Biogen's Alzheimer's drug

Bob Herman

A blue and red sign in front of a VA hospital that informs people locations of different departments. — The VA hospital in Phoenix. Photo: Caitlin O'Hara/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Department of Veterans Affairs has excluded Aduhelm, the $56,000-per-year Alzheimer's drug made by Biogen and Eisai, from its list of approved drugs due to the drug's "lack of evidence of a robust and meaningful clinical benefit and the known safety signal," Endpoints News reports.

Why it matters: Some hospitals and health insurers have said they will not provide or cover Aduhelm, but the VA is the largest entity yet to spurn the drug.

Between the lines: The VA recommends against using Aduhelm for veterans, but will make exceptions for "highly selected patients" before covering the drug, STAT notes.

Medicare's coverage decision is the most important, but that won't come until next year.

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VA won't cover Biogen's Alzheimer's drug

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