As detailed in Ed Silverman's Pharmalot blog, two US Senators are asking questions with regard to Medicare's review of Provenge. They note that it is not standard by any means to review a drug for an approved use. Off-label? Yes. Approved on-label? No.
Senators Ask Why Medicare Is Reviewing Provenge // Pharmalot.
The Senators suspect that Medicare may wish to restrict coverage - presumably due to its high cost. Such a review is NOT common for new drugs and price is NOT supposed to be part of the analysis. Stay tuned.
Posted by Bruce Lehr August 26th 2010.
It may be a good question but as Adam Feuerstein reports today (Sept 27th) in The Street - Medicare's questions are stirring investor fears and Dendron's stock is going down
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10872332/1/dendreon-shares-roiled-by-medicare-questions.html
Posted by: bigredbruce | 09/27/2010 at 01:38 PM
WSJ Health blog reports (Sept 1st) that Dendreon shares are up based on news of CMS scheduling meeting to review Provenge
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/09/01/dendreon-shares-up-on-provenge-medicare-coverage-meeting-scheduling/
Posted by: bigredbruce | 09/01/2010 at 03:03 PM
Another update on this story from the Pharmalot blog (Sept 1st)
http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/09/cms-will-hold-a-meeting-to-review-provenge/
Posted by: bigredbruce | 09/01/2010 at 09:23 AM