Six advocacy groups have asked the federal government to sidestep a handful of patents on a pricey drug used to treat a rare form of muscular dystrophy as part of an ongoing campaign to provide wider access to high-cost medicines.
In a letter sent on Wednesday to the Department of Health and Human Services, the groups argued that the patents — which are either owned or licensed by Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) — failed to disclose federal funding for grants that were used to develop a drug known as Exondys 51 for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is an accompanying memo sent to HHS.
If the groups are correct, such a failure could have implications for the company and patients because federal law permits the government to take title to a patent. The government could then, presumably, pursue alternative arrangements for making the drug available at a lower cost. The annual price tag is about $300,000, although this can rise dramatically depending upon patient weight.
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