Prescription Costs for Evrysdi for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Health (a) what is the breakdown of the yearly prescription costs for Evrysdi for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy in Singapore; (b) what is the range of prices charged for Evrysdi in countries where the use of the drug is approved; and (c) what is the mechanism by which the pricing of such drugs is regulated in Singapore.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: The drug risdiplam, sold under the brand name Evrysdi, is an oral medicine registered with the Health Sciences Authority for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

The average yearly cost of risdiplam in Singapore is about S$375,000, compared to published prices ranging from S$260,000 to S$390,000 in some countries.

The Ministry of Health does not regulate drug prices in private hospitals. However, for public health institutions (PHIs), the Agency for Care Effectiveness (ACE) conducts value-based pricing negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, to ensure that prices are commensurate with the outcomes they deliver for patients and PHIs’ charges would cover some operations and overhead costs.