Going from patron saint to for-profit company

Monday’s surprise FDA approval for Jacobus Pharmaceuticals meant patients with a rare disease might get a cheaper alternative to another company’s $375,000 drug. But for Jacobus, which has spent years providing its therapy for free, the FDA’s decision raises some difficult questions.

As STAT’s Ed Silverman reports, Jacobus’s drug will compete with a similar one from Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, whose December FDA approval made it the only treatment available in the U.S. Now Jacobus, long painted as the hero in this saga, will have to decide how much to charge for something it used to give away.

“No matter what we do, we’ll continue to be fair,” said Laura Jacobus, who runs the company. “... There are two different issues. One is how do we sustain our company. And the other is how do we make sure all patients who are eligible for access have the access.”

Read more.