New drug For Rare Childhood Disease; Price Tag, $702,000 A Year

The FDA has just approved a new drug, Brineura, for a rare childhood brain-disease known as CLN2, which progresses quickly and is considered fatal.

BioMarin, the drug’s manufacturer, has pegged the yearly price of the drug for a patient at an astronomical $702,000. Discounts will be offered—the average annual price for the patient will come down to $486,000.