The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two new drugs on Wednesday that help delay the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a severe and often-fatal lung disease that is characterized by scarring in the lungs and typically affects middle-aged and elderly people.
Esbriet, one of the drugs, was developed by Roche, while the other, Ofev, was developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. Both are intended as first treatments for IPF, which results from a thickening of lung tissue due to scarring that inhibits the lungs’ oxygenation of blood. There is no current method of treatment, and almost half of all patients diagnosed with IPF die within three to five years of developing the disease.
Both of the drugs were approved prior to deadlines in late November and early January. Ofev’s price hasn’t yet been revealed and will be announced within the next 10 days, while Esbriet will cost $7,800 a month, according to the New York Times. Pricing is based on efficacy and the cost of other pharmaceuticals available in the market.
