The story of Zinbryta follows a pattern that has become distressingly familiar. The drug was created to treat multiple sclerosis and aimed specifically at those who were not getting relief from other medications. This resulted in an excessively expensive drug being marketed to desperate patients, and an approval process that may have overlooked greater than usual risks on the basis that the drug was for those who were otherwise out of options.
The Story Behind Zinbryta
At present, there is no cure for MS. Treatment is aimed at slowing its course and helping patients recover from its effects. The hope was that Zinbryta would reduce inflammation and help restore proper immune function. It was developed for patients who were unable to get relief from existing treatments and may have played a role in the pricing for the drug.
In September of 2017, Congressman Elijah Cummings launched a probe into the reasons for its high price in the U.S. After an investigation by the Washington-based nonprofit Ecology International found that the annual cost to American patients, more than $96,000 per year, was three to four times higher than in other high-income countries.








