Pricing a new gene therapy

Bluebird Bio secured European approval for its beta thalassemia gene therapy earlier this month; this week, it will unveil pricing information. The company has said the treatment has an “intrinsic value” of $2.1 million; analysts, however, expect it’ll charge less.

So, what do you think: How much less?

Less than Zolgensma, Novartis’ spinal muscular atrophy drug, which was priced at that $2.1 million.

Less than Glybera, a commercial flop in Europe at its $1 million price point and withdrawn from the market, meant to treat lipoprotein lipase deficiency. 

Less than Spark's Luxturna, which treats a rare form of childhood blindness, and costs $850,000.

Less than Kymriah, the Novartis CAR-T drug that technically is indeed a gene therapy, and costs $450,000.