Look back at pharma news to Jan 13

Biogen courted controversy after announcing a price for its newest approved rare disease drug that would make it one of the most expensive in history, but trial data released by the Cambridge biotech on Friday indicates that the treatment is effective.

According to the Boston Business Journal, after winning approval for Spinraza for spinal muscular atrophy, Biogen revealed that it would cost $125,000 per injection. That amounts to $750,000 for the first year of use and $375,000 each subsequent year for life. One analyst, Geoffrey Porges of Leerink Partners, wrote that the decision was “likely to invite a storm of criticism, up to and including Presidential tweets.”

Investors don’t like the ‘New Merrimack’