Roivant, Priovant launch newly approved rare disease drug Lisraya at $35,000 a month

Aug. 28 (Reuters) - Roivant and partner Priovant Therapeutics on Friday set a list price of $35,000 for a 30-day supply of their newly approved rare disease drug, Lisraya.

Here are the details:

• The daily pill, which launched immediately after FDA approval, is the first targeted oral treatment for dermatomyositis, a rare condition that causes painful skin rashes and progressive muscle weakness.
• On an analyst call on Friday, Priovant CEO Ben Zimmer said prescribing is open and the first patient prescriptions have already come in.
• The companies are offering a patient support program that can reduce out-of-pocket costs to $0 for eligible patients.
• Roivant CEO Matt Gline estimated the net annual value to the company per patient on a full year of therapy to be in the low-to-mid $300,000 range, though he cautioned that market adoption is expected to build gradually.
• In the trial, patients receiving a daily 30 mg dose of Lisraya, chemically known as brepocitinib, achieved a mean total improvement score of 46.5 after 52 weeks, compared with 31.2 for placebo. The difference was statistically significant, with benefits seen as early as week four, the companies said.
• Pfizer in 2021 licensed the drug to Priovant Therapeutics, a joint company it created with Roivant.
• Roivant owns 71% of Priovant, while Pfizer holds a 24% stake.