Do you want the good news first or the bad news first? The bad news is that Medicare rejected Astellas’ antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazonium) for add-on payments. The good news is that the decision might provide momentum for the cause of enhanced Medicare reimbursements for new antimicrobial drugs, and a new mechanism would create a more reliable incentive for sponsors to develop products.
The difficulties experienced by new antimicrobial and antifungal products in obtaining an increased reimbursement level for introduction is one reason for the DISARM section of the House “21st Century Cures Act