As mentioned in the article, a prominent cost-effectiveness research group, ICER, suggests that the treatment may be cost effective at prices of up to $1.5M, bu

As mentioned in the article, a prominent cost-effectiveness research group, ICER, suggests that the treatment may be cost effective at prices of up to $1.5M, but with a different set of the assumptions, the cost-effectiveness threshold could be as low as $310K. Other studies suggest CAR-T drugs are cost-effective at current prices, but they are not widely covered by payers. In these cases, it is less clear whether drug companies or payers are to blame for access to treatment The article also does not mention what the gene therapy in question actually does. In small studies, it has essentially cured a disease that would otherwise kill babies before they are two. It's a pretty amazing product. And there are many companies hot on their heels, some of which are developing small molecule drugs -- much cheaper to develop and manufacture than gene therapy -- that actually seem to be potentially nearly as effective The detailed ICER review is a good read if you're looking to understand how drugs are valued: https://icer-review.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ICER_SMA_Final_Evidence_Report_040319.pdf https://icer-review.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ICER_SMA_...