$122 Million payment for a drug that is helpful only for a small number of people (relatively speaking) -- a drug that reduces rate of cytomegalovirus infection in bone marrow transplant patients from about 60% to about 37%. That isn't exactly a stellar result (though great for those who avoid infection because of the drug). Cost, about $200/day wholesale price, $270/day retail.

So what kind of payment do you think would be triggered for an oral rinse that prevents oral mucositis in a much larger patient population? The number of head and neck cancer patients who would use Brilacidin-OM is far larger, and if the use is widened to all chemo and radiation patients who are at risk for OM, it will be even larger.

https://endpts.com/merck-wins-fda-ok-for-new-...%20AiCuris