Japan’s regulatory authorities have decided to grant reimbursement to Novartis AG/AveXis Inc.’s gene therapy Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) under the national health insurance scheme, marking a watershed in drug pricing in the country, although the annualized cost will be less than many other big-selling products.
The decision also suggests a continued willingness in Japan to support novel therapies and gene therapies in particular, following the reimbursement of the first such product last year.