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Editor's Corner

Guidance sharpens drug distribution

George Miller HOLLIS, NH - Like the case with drug-manufacture outsourcing, handoffs are critical in drug distribution. Especially for drugs that require cold. But in contrast to highly regulated and scrutinized drug manufacturing, the so-called last mile of a drug's journey to the patient is a kind of regulatory Wild West. Report

Analysis

The world's most expensive drugs

Genzyme drugs take four spots among the most expensive in a Forbes survey (chart). The developer's rare disease treatments Myozyme, Fabrazyme, Cerezyme and Aldurazyme all cost over $200,000 per year. But the Cerezyme price is likely to head south following last week's FDA approval of Shire's Gaucher treatment, velaglucerase alfa for injection. Alexion Pharmaceuticals takes the top spot for the world's most expensive drug, Soliris. The therapy costs $409,500 per year. Report