Valeant's Patient Access And Pricing Committee Announces Pricing For SILIQ as Lowest Priced Injectable Biologic For Psoriasis

Following the evaluation and approval of its Patient Access and Pricing Committee (PAPC), Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. has decided to list SILIQ (brodalumab) injection at $3,500 per month, which is the lowest injectable biologic psoriasis treatment currently on the market. SILIQ will also be included in the company's patient access program to further offer financial support and access to patients.  SILIQ, a monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-17 receptor for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy and have failed to respond or have lost response to other systemic therapies. SILIQ is the only product that included the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 100) during clinical trials as a primary endpoint. The sales and marketing of SILIQ are expected to commence in the U.S. during the second half of 2017.

"The Patient Access and Pricing Committee was constructed to help our company ensure patients have the best possible access to our products. Our goal with SILIQ is to provide outstanding efficacy while being the most affordable injectable biologic for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis," said Joseph Papa, Chairman and CEO of Valeant.

In May 2016, Valeant says it established the PAPC to be responsible for the pricing of the company's drugs to ensure that Valeant's pricing, contracting, compliance, and reimbursement strategies are consistent and compliant with all relevant laws, regulations, and guidance, as well as the company's position on patient-affordable access to medicines. The Company's Board of Directors oversees the committee, which is chaired by Papa and includes a multi-disciplinary team of Valeant employees, including doctors, scientists, and other executives.

SILIQ has a Black Box Warning for risk in patients with a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior. SILIQ was approved with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) involving a one-time enrollment for physicians and one-time informed consent for patients. The most common adverse reactions were headache, arthralgia, fatigue, oropharyngeal pain, and diarrhea. SILIQ is contraindicated in patients with Crohn's disease.  Suicidal ideation and behavior have been reported. Serious infections have occurred therefore caution should be exercised when considering the use of SILIQ in patients with a chronic infection or a history of recurrent infection. Patients should be evaluated for tuberculosis infection prior to initiating treatment.