What is Zolgensma and why does it cost $2 million?

Zolgensma is a gene therapy approved by the FDA to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Its high cost is attributed to the extensive research, development, and manufacturing processes required for such novel treatments.

How are families like Ciji Green's affording gene therapy?

Families often resort to philanthropy, crowdfunding, and intense advocacy to persuade insurance companies or healthcare systems to cover the cost of these life-saving gene therapies.

What is the future of gene therapy costs and insurance coverage?

Experts predict a 'tsunami' of genetic therapies will overwhelm current insurance systems, necessitating societal solutions like government support and negotiated prices to manage these high costs.

Home / Health / Gene Therapy Costs Millions, Saves Lives

Gene Therapy Costs Millions, Saves Lives

15 Dec

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Summary

New gene therapies cost millions, challenging healthcare affordability.
Parents fight insurance denials for life-saving genetic treatments.
Drug makers face pressure to justify high prices of innovative drugs.

Gene Therapy Costs Millions, Saves Lives

A new era of gene therapies offers hope for children with previously untreatable genetic diseases, capable of replacing defective genes with a single dose. However, these miracle drugs are priced at millions of dollars, posing a significant challenge to healthcare systems and families alike. Insurance companies are increasingly denying coverage, forcing desperate parents into lengthy battles to access life-saving treatments.

This financial burden is not only impacting individual families but also the healthcare industry. Self-insured employers face difficult decisions about bankrupting themselves to cover these costs or denying essential care to employees. The rising prevalence of such therapies in clinical trials signals a coming "tsunami" that could overwhelm current insurance models.

Drug manufacturers argue that the high costs are due to extensive research, development, and manufacturing challenges, with costs often reaching billions. Despite these explanations, the ethical debate continues, as society grapples with how to balance groundbreaking medical innovation with the need for accessible and affordable healthcare for all.