New Tecfidera generic aims to ease financial burden for MS patients
Low-cost form of oral therapy offers average savings of $4,300 per month
A new low-cost version of Tecfidera, a widely used oral therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), is now available in the U.S. for a fraction of the typical cost.
Launched by Civicascript, this generic form of dimethyl fumarate is expected to significantly improve access to MS treatment by offering a much more affordable option to patients. The therapy will cost pharmacies $47 for a monthly supply (60 capsules of the 240 mg dose), with a maximum recommended price of $68 for patients.
According to Civicascript, this represents an average savings of $4,300 per month compared with other generic versions on the market.
To promote price transparency, Civicascript will include a QR code on each bottle that allows patients, caregivers, and pharmacists to verify that the price being charged does not exceed the listed amount.
This launch follows Civicascript’s earlier success in releasing a low-cost generic version of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) for prostate cancer, which led to significant savings for patients and insurers.
“Today’s launch is yet another step in our journey to make necessary medications more affordable for the patients who need them,” Brent J Eberle, president of Civicascript, said in a company press release. “We’re bringing transparency and affordability to the generic drug market in a sustainable way – saving money for patients and payers and making medicines more accessible.”
Dimethyl fumarate deemed priority medicine by Civicascript members
Tecfidera was approved in the U.S. more than a decade ago, and is used to treat adults with clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting MS, and active secondary progressive MS.
It is taken orally as a delayed-release capsule, with patients typically starting with a lower dose of 120 mg twice daily for the first week — to minimize side effects like flushing and stomach issues — and then transitioning to a maintenance dose of 240 mg twice daily.
Tecfidera works by reducing inflammation in the brain and spinal cord and has also been shown to have antioxidant properties that could protect nerve cells against damage.
A long-term Phase 4 study (NCT02047097) following more than 5,000 patients treated in a real-world setting for more than six years found that Tecfidera continues to be generally safe, well tolerated, and effective at reducing MS disease activity. The study showed a 90.1% reduction in relapse rates, with nearly 88% of patients experiencing no confirmed disability progression lasting at least 48 weeks.
A generic is a medication that is nearly identical to the brand-name product in terms of safety, efficacy, and pharmacological properties. These are generally sold at lower prices, helping to improve access to treatments, but many generics still come at a substantial cost to patients.
Dimethyl fumarate was selected as a priority medicine by Civicascript members based on its high cost from other manufacturers and the significant need among MS patients.
Through its unique business model, Civicascript partners with manufacturers to produce low-cost generics, then works directly with payers and pharmacies to ensure those savings reach patients.
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