Japan's health insurance to cover $1.5 million gene therapy drug

Japan's national health insurance will cover a gene therapy drug for a rare childhood genetic disorder that costs 167 million yen ($1.56 million) per treatment, making it the most expensive medication funded by the public system, government officials said Wednesday.An advisory panel to the health minister approved provision of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG's drug Zolgensma for spinal amyotrophy patients under the age of 2 starting as early as May 20, the officials said.The drug, which costs over 200 million yen in the United States, is known as the world's most expensive medication…READ FULL ARTICLE