Biogen/ Sage expected to hike price for new depression drug after narrow label
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Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) and Sage Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SAGE) are likely to launch their new depression therapy, Zurzuvae, at a price three times higher than initially expected, Mizuho analysts argued, after the FDA restricted its label only for postpartum depression (PPD) last week, according to a CNN report.

Announcing its approval last week, the companies said that the oral, once-daily treatment would be available for U.S. patients with PPD in the fourth quarter of 2023.
However, the FDA rejected its use for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), which affects an estimated 15M people compared to only about 500K patients with PPD in the U.S.
Given the limited market opportunity, the companies are expected to price Zurzuvae on par with Zulresso, Mizuho analyst Salim Syed said, referring to Sageâs (SAGE) intravenously delivered PPD therapy that costs $35K.
Previously, Sage (SAGE) had said that the new treatment, also known as zuranolone, would be priced at less than $10K if the FDA greenlighted it for both MDD and PDD, analyst Uy Ear added.


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