ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — A new study by pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics (Prime), in collaboration with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, found that the recent dramatic increase in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) specialty drug costs has resulted in the drug costs now accounting for more than two-thirds of the patients total cost of care. While many with MS have seen improved quality of life as a result of drug therapy, unfortunately these MS specialty drug cost increases were not associated with MS medical costs declining. These study findings will be presented today at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy’s 2012 Educational Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.
According to the study, the average individual annual MS specialty drug cost was $28,152 and all other health care costs were $13,608 in 2010. The price for MS self-injectable specialty drugs has increased 16.3% to 22.6% each year from 2008 to present, calculated using the compound annual growth rate (CAGR). Assuming the same inflationary MS specialty drug price increases, within four years, the average annual cost for a MS specialty drug will exceed $50,000.
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