What is the cost of Crizanlizumab?
The list price for Crizanlizumab (Adakveo) is approximately \$9,200 per infusion. This price is for a 100 mg vial, and typical treatment involves multiple infusions. [1]
How is Crizanlizumab administered and how does that affect cost?
Crizanlizumab is administered intravenously. [1] The prescribed dosage and frequency of infusions will determine the overall cost of treatment. Dosing typically involves an initial dose, followed by subsequent doses every four weeks. [2]
What is Crizanlizumab used for?
Crizanlizumab is approved for the treatment of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in patients 16 years of age and older with sickle cell disease (SCD). [1] Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that can cause severe pain, organ damage, and premature death. [3]
Does insurance cover Crizanlizumab?
Coverage for Crizanlizumab can vary by insurance provider. Patients may need to work with their insurance company and the manufacturer to determine eligibility and potential out-of-pocket expenses. [4] Novartis, the manufacturer of Crizanlizumab, offers patient assistance programs that may help reduce costs for eligible individuals. [4]
What are the alternatives to Crizanlizumab for sickle cell disease?
Other treatment options for sickle cell disease include blood transfusions, pain management medications, and hydroxyurea. [3] For certain patients, stem cell transplant can be a curative option. [3] Decisions about treatment should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional.
What is the mechanism of action for Crizanlizumab?
Crizanlizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to P-selectin, a cell adhesion molecule. [1] By inhibiting P-selectin, Crizanlizumab is believed to reduce the adhesion of sickled red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to the vascular endothelium, thereby preventing vaso-occlusion. [1]
What clinical trials have evaluated Crizanlizumab?
The efficacy of Crizanlizumab in reducing VOCs was established in the SUSTAIN trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving patients with sickle cell disease. [2]
What are the potential side effects of Crizanlizumab?
Common side effects of Crizanlizumab include nausea, diarrhea, pyrexia, arthralgia, back pain, and pain in the extremities. [1] Infusion-related reactions can also occur. [1] A boxed warning on the drug's label addresses the risk of severe hypersensitivity reactions and potential for infusion reactions. [1]
What is the difference between Crizanlizumab and other sickle cell treatments?
Crizanlizumab targets a specific pathway (P-selectin) involved in VOCs, aiming to reduce the frequency of these pain crises. [1] This mechanism differs from treatments like hydroxyurea, which increases fetal hemoglobin, or blood transfusions, which replace sickled cells with healthy ones. [3]
Who manufactures Crizanlizumab?
Crizanlizumab is manufactured by Novartis. [4]
When was Crizanlizumab approved?
Crizanlizumab received FDA approval in November 2019. [1]
What are patient concerns regarding Crizanlizumab?
Patients often have concerns about the cost of novel therapies, potential side effects, and the effectiveness of the treatment in managing their sickle cell disease symptoms, particularly VOCs. [4] Understanding insurance coverage and available financial assistance is also a significant concern. [4]
Sources
1. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/fda-approves-adakveo-crizanlizumab-sickle-cell-disease
2. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1709454
3. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/sickle-cell-disease
4. https://www.novartis.com/patients/patient-support