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Bluebird, Vertex Gene Therapies May Answer $1m Question: Can Competition Reduce Rx Prices?

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Medicaid is expected to be the primary payer for the sickle cell treatments. Bluebird bio maintains outcomes-based arrangements are a key part of its access strategy and will overcome what appears to be a significant competitive disadvantage on price compared to the Vertex product.

Bluebird May Need To Buckle Up For A Bumpy Ride • Source: Shutterstock

The US Food and Drug Administration’s simultaneous approval of two gene therapies for sickle cell disease from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated/CRISPR Therapeutics AG and bluebird bio on 8 December provides the competitors an equal start out of the gate, and offers another test for the Rx policy concept that intra-class competition can drive down prices.

Based on the initial list prices, though, it seems like perhaps competition cannot do that, at least not in this...

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