Elevidys, a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is the most costly medication authorized in Brazil and among the most expensive in the world, with the government setting a basic price of 13.6 million Brazilian reais. Compared to Zolgensma, which was once the most expensive drug in the nation, this price is over double. Similar to the deal achieved for Zolgensma, the government is anticipated to adopt a risk-sharing arrangement with the drug’s producer, Roche, in order to alleviate the exorbitant cost. [Read More: Elevidys Gene Therapy has Arrived in Brazil and Could Cost up to 20 Million Brazilian Reais]
The pricing choice was made in the midst of legal action. The Federal Government would have had to pay 1.2 billion Brazilian reais for coverage of Elevidys at its US pricing of 2.8 million USD (17 million Brazilian reais), according to almost 70 lawsuits filed in 2024. Justice Gilmar Mendes recently ordered payment for patients under injunctions after the case reached the Supreme Court.
With a 21.53% discount, Elevidys will now be included in Brazil’s public healthcare system, the Unified Healthcare System (SUS), for 10.6 million Brazilian reais. A risk-sharing arrangement with Roche will probably be part of this coverage, mandating the business to lose a portion of the payment if the treatment fails to provide predetermined clinical outcomes. This strategy is similar to the Ministry of Health’s 2022 contract with Novartis for Zolgensma.
“I think risk sharing will be adopted by the government going forward. Given the roughly 300 qualified patients, Elevidys might cost public and private health systems 3.6 billion Brazilian reais a year at 17 million Brazilian reais, according to Denizar Vianna, a former Ministry of Health Secretary of Science and Technology. “In 2023, the hemophilia program served 32,000 people with a budget of 1.2 billion Brazilian reais.”
The drug’s public system price was fixed at 6.2 million Brazilian reais under the Zolgensma agreement, with 20% paid up front and the remaining amount spread over four yearly installments.
Learn More: In Which Countries Is Elevidys Approved? Is Elevidys Approved In Europe?
[…] In Brazil, the Government is Expected to Implement a Risk-Sharing Model with Roche for ELEVIDYS […]