Valeant Pharmaceuticals lists price of plaque psoriasis drug at $3,500 per month

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has decided to set the price of its biologic psoriasis treatment, known as Siliq (brodalumab) injection, at $3,500 per month.

The company announced this decision after an evaluation and approval of its Patient Access and Pricing Committee (PAPC).

Siliq will also be included in the company’s patient access programme to provide additional financial support and access to patients.

Siliq is a monoclonal antibody administered to adult patients suffering from moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, which targets the IL-17 receptor and prevents inflammatory signalling by blocking their binding to the receptor.

By blocking IL-17 from activating the receptor, Siliq prevents the body from receiving signals that may lead to inflammation.

"Our goal with Siliq is to provide outstanding efficacy while being the most affordable injectable biologic for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis."

The treatment is indicated for those patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy and do not respond to other systemic therapies.

The sales and marketing of this product are expected to start in the US during the second half of this year.

Valeant chairman and CEO Joseph Papa said: "The Patient Access and Pricing Committee was constructed to help our company ensure patients have the best possible access to our products.

"Our goal with Siliq is to provide outstanding efficacy while being the most affordable injectable biologic for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis."

Valeant formed the PAPC in May last year, which is responsible for ensuring that the company's pricing, contracting, compliance and reimbursement strategies are consistent and comply with all relevant laws and regulations.

Siliq comes with a Black Box Warning for risk in patients with a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviour and is also contraindicated in patients with Crohn's disease.