Biogen Forecasts Gradual Launch For Life-Transforming Drug Spinraza

Jan 26 2017

• By Jessica Merrill

Listen to this article

The biotech said it has had some early “challenges” securing reimbursement for Spinraza, which it priced at $750,000 for the first year of treatment for the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy

Biogen Inc. guided investors to expect a gradual launch of Spinraza (nusinersen) for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) during its fourth quarter sales and earnings call Jan. 26. The cautious outlook is notable because Spinraza is the first life-transforming medicine approved for the devastating rare neurodegenerative disease – not a drug entering a competitive therapeutic category.

But Biogen priced the drug at a staggering price, even by rare disease standards: $750,000 for the first year of...

More from Business

Test Roche Head Of Pharma Strategy Karsten Jung On Rebuilding The Portfolio
Jan 23 2026
• By Jessica Merrill
The Swiss pharma company is rebalancing the portfolio, emphasizing best-in-class drugs and moving into new areas like cardiovascular and metabolic disease.
Quick Listen: Scrip’s Five Must-Know Things
Dec 09 2025
• By Reed Miller
In this week's episode: Trump’s UK drug pricing win; Novo explains semaglutide Alzheimer's rationale; J&J and Novartis on this year’s biggest M&A deals; a look at the mixed performance of CAR-Ts; and Akeso’s goals beyond ivonescimab.
Article Without An Author Listed
Nov 19 2025
Here is a short description.
Spotlight On RDCs, AOCs As Leading Novel Bioconjugates[Updated]
Nov 12 2025
Pipelines in bioconjugates continue to develop, from ADCs to XDCs, with radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) leading the expansion.

More from Scrip

sponsored
Sponsored by :
Clinical Trial Complexity Is Reshaping Evidence Collection Clinical trial innovation has historical
As clinical trials grow more complex, execution pressures are changing where and how evidence is collected.
EHA: Lilly’s Jaypirca Posts First Phase III Triplet Win In CLL While BTK Degraders Advance
Jul 15 2026
Lilly's first Phase III triplet win opens the door to a label expansion in BTK-pretreated CLL, with analysts suggesting Jaypica could attain blockbuster status. However, the window to capitalize may be brief as next-generation BTK degraders close in with head-to-head trials.
EHA: Lilly’s Jaypirca Posts First Phase III Triplet Win In CLL While BTK Degraders Advance - Clone
Jun 18 2026
Lilly's first Phase III triplet win opens the door to a label expansion in BTK-pretreated CLL, with analysts suggesting Jaypica could attain blockbuster status. However, the window to capitalize may be brief as next-generation BTK degraders close in with head-to-head trials.