Di Yi Cai Jing·2025-12-02 12:17Core Viewpoint - A rare disease gene therapy, Itvisma, developed by Novartis, has gained attention for its high price of $2.59 million, aimed at treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in patients aged two and above with a specific genetic mutation [1][4]. Pricing and Market Position - Itvisma's price of $2.59 million exceeds that of Novartis's earlier product, Zolgensma, which was priced at $2.125 million and is now only available for children under two [1]. - Despite its high price, Itvisma barely ranks among the top ten most expensive drugs globally, as reported by Fierce Pharma [1]. - The most expensive drug as of 2025 is Lenmeldy, priced at $4.25 million, followed by Hemgenix at $3.5 million, and other gene therapies priced above $3 million [2][3]. Market Dynamics and Challenges - The gene therapy market is transitioning from concept validation to large-scale commercialization, facing challenges such as high prices, market promotion difficulties, and insurance reimbursement issues [3][4]. - Companies like Bluebird Bio, despite having multiple gene therapies approved, struggle with commercialization, as evidenced by low sales figures for their high-priced therapies [3][4]. Sales Performance - Zolgensma has shown relatively successful commercialization, with sales of $1.2 billion in 2024, maintaining the same level as the previous year [4]. - In contrast, Bluebird Bio's therapies, despite their high prices, reported only $10 million in sales for one product in Q3 2024 [3]. Future Outlook - The global gene therapy market is projected to grow from $9 billion in 2024 to $11.5 billion in 2025, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 27.6% [5]. - Novartis claims that Itvisma's one-time treatment is 35% to 46% cheaper over a ten-year span compared to existing long-term therapies [5].