Health insurers in the U.S. are seeking more data from Biogen regarding its $56,000-per-year Alzheimer’s treatment Aduhelm (aducanumab) before agreeing to pay for the treatment, according to Bloomberg. None of the 25 large insurers that took part in a Bloomberg News survey found that the drug was “medically necessary.”
Humana Inc. is, however, covering Aduhelm for patients who are similar to those in the drug’s clinical trials.
Having won conditional FDA approval in June, aducanumab has failed to gain traction as a popular therapy.
Biogen developed the drug in collaboration with Eisai Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan).
The drug has received a flurry of negative headlines in recent months.
FDA called for an OIG investigation into its own dealings when reviewing the drug, and two House committees have launched investigations into its approval as well.
This week, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) signalled it was unlikely to approve the drug by giving it a “negative trend vote.”
In addition, Biogen is now researching the death of a 75-year-old potentially associated with the drug.
Biogen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.