Breakthrough science doesn't mean blockbuster sales

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals made history with the first FDA-approved drug to harness Nobel Prize-winning discoveries in RNA. But the company’s quest to make real money might be rockier than anyone expected.

Alnylam booked less than $500,000 worth of sales last quarter, which is but a fraction of the $4 million analysts expected. That imperils Wall Street’s forecast of billion-dollar peak revenue, and it explains why Alnylam’s share price fell 12 percent yesterday.

But, as STAT’s Kate Sheridan reports, the company is asking for a little patience. The company is still in the process of locking down insurance coverage, which means lots of patients are getting the drug for free.

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