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Ocaliva PBC Uptake May Be Slow, But Builds Capital For NASH

 
• By Donna Young

Whether initially gradual or immediately strong, the uptake by physicians of Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Ocaliva (obeticholic acid), which was priced at $69,350 per year, will ultimately mean money in the bank for the company, providing the firm the capital it will need to fund the much more lucrative opportunity: NASH, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

While Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it anticipates the uptake of its newly approved farnesoid X receptor agonist Ocaliva (obeticholic acid) to be gradual in the primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) population – with the firm declaring it plans to initially target only 700 gastroenterologists and hematologists, or about 30% of treating physicians, although the most experienced – the company insisted it does intend to reach its full target of up to 80% of doctors, or about 4,000, over the course of this year.

Nonetheless, Intercept is now on its way of transitioning from a research and development company to a full-fledged commercial entity,...

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