4. HP Acthar
Typical cost for a 30-day supply: $51,600
Treats: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Proteinuria in Nephrotic Syndrome, too much protein in urine; dermatomyositis and polymyositis, bone joint and muscle disorders; rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis; multiple sclerosis; infantile spasms, a catastrophic form of childhood epilepsy; sarcoidosis, an inflammation disease; and several ophthalmic conditions.
In 2014, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical purchased the company that made ACTH, a 60-year-old drug whose per-vial price had reportedly risen from $40 to $28,000 in a decade. The drug is administered via injection.
