World's priciest medicine costs $400k per year

Melbourne, Feb 24 (ANI): The world's priciest medicine, Soliris, costs an astonishing 409,500 dollars a year for the average patient, according to a survey.

The survey of the most expensive medicines on earth was conducted by Forbes.com.

A New York Post report said that Soliris, made by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, is given intravenously to treat paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, or PNH, a rare disorder in which the immune system destroys red blood cells.

A spokesman for Alexion, Irving Adler, said that the high price of Soliris reflects several factors, 'including an 800-million-dollar investment to develop the drug,' as well as a 15-year investment of time.

Elaprase, which costs about 375,000 dollars a year, holds the second spot on Forbes' list, reports News.com.au.

The drug, made by Shire Pharmaceuticals, treats Hunter syndrome, an extremely rare metabolic disorder. (ANI)