Bluebird’s gene therapy for a rare blood disease will cost $1.8 million. Cue the pricing debate

Bluebird Bio (BLUE) won’t be selling the world’s most expensive drug. The second priciest? Yup.

Zynteglo, the one-and-done gene therapy for beta thalassemia newly approved in Europe, will carry a price tag of $1.8 million, Bluebird announced Friday. Only Zolgensma, the Novartis gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, is priced higher, at $2.1 million.

The companies offering gene replacement treatments for rare diseases have all faced criticism about the ultra-premium pricing. All have justified the high cost of their therapies, claiming that these potentially curative medicines save patients, insurers, and the overall healthcare system money by reducing overall cost of medical expenses over time. And they’ve all tried to head off reimbursement restrictions offering payment installment plans or money-back guarantees.

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe

Log In