The 10 most expensive drugs patients may give themselves

At a list price of $86,000 per month, Zokinvy is right now the costliest medication in the U.S. that patients can self-administer.

Manufactured by Eiger BioPharmaceuticals of Palo Alto, California, Zokinvy has only been on the market since November. Like many others making GoodRx’s top 20 as of the end of January, it treats a rare genetic condition.

Twelve of the 20 saw price increases last month, when the prescription discounter logged the largest number of price hikes in any month since 2014, according to a separate post.

“While few patients actually pay the list price, as they are typically shielded by their health insurance, the list price is still a good proxy for the price of a drug,” GoodRx points out.

Here’s the top half of the list by monthly price, along with manufacturer and clinical indication:

$86,040  Zokinvy (Eiger BioPharmaceuticals)—Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome

$74,159  Myalept (Aegerion Pharmaceuticals)—leptin deficiency in patients with generalized lipodystrophy

$60,371  Mavenclad (EMD Serono)—relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

$57,998  Ravicti  (Horizon Therapeutics)—urea cycle disorders

$55,310  Actimmune (Horizon Therapeutics)—osteopetrosis and chronic granulomatous disease

$48,498  Oxervate (Dompé)—neurotrophic keratitis

$46,828  Takhzyro (Takeda)—angioedema

$46,502  Juxtapid (Aegerion Pharmaceuticals)—homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

$45,465  Cinryze (Takeda)—hereditary angioedema

$42,570  Chenodal (Travere Therapeutics)—gallstones

For the rest of the top 20 priciest patient-administered meds according to GoodRx, click here.

Dave Pearson

Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.

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