A nonprofit organization that assesses how drugmakers should price their products is now saying two new migraine drugs should be priced higher than it previously determined, STAT reported.
The reversal marks only the second time that the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review has changed its decision about how much a drug should cost.
The institute assesses the value of drugs in the U.S. because no government agency does it, STAT reported. Drugmakers aren't legally bound by the institute's recommendations.
The two drugs are Allergan's Ubrelvy and Biohaven Pharmaceuticals' rimegepant. Both are designed to treat migraines.
The institute originally estimated list prices for the two drugs between $2,200 and $3,200 per year. Now, it says the drugs should cost between $4,150 and $4,650. It said the drugs should be priced the same since they are very similar, STAT reported.
Changing the valuation estimate is an example of the institute's willingness to be more flexible in the face of criticism of its approach to evaluating new drugs, STAT reported.
Some patient groups have argued that ICER's methodology is flawed and discriminates against chronically ill patients, people who are elderly and people with disabilities.
The organization didn't change its assessment of a similar migraine drug from Eli Lilly, Reyvow. That drug has a current list price of $4,160, but the institute says it should cost $2,770 to $3,150 with a 32 percent to 40 percent discount from drugmakers.
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