According to the news article“遺伝子治療薬「ルクスターナ」両目投与で約1億円…「リットフーロ」など30日薬価収載｜トピックス | AnswersNews (ten-navi.com)” released by AnswersNews dated 23/Aug/2023, the Central Social Insurance Medical Council of Japan (Chu-I-Kyo) gave the green-light to the historically high listing price of “Luxturna”, a groundbreaking gene therapy drug developed by Novartis Pharma. Luxturna (generic name: Voretigene Neparvovec) will be used for the genetic treatment of “Inherited Retinal Dystrophy due to Biallelic RPE65 Mutations,” a hereditary eye disease. It functions by addressing the functional deficiency of the RPE65 gene. NHI price for reimbursement of the treatment is calculated using a cost-based method, and a single vial (0.5 mL) is priced at 49.6 million yen (about 350K USD), resulting in the total treatment costs for both eyes of nearly 100 million yen (about 700K USD). Luxturna is expected to reach 500 million yen (about 3,500K USD) in annual sales at its peak, with an estimated five patients receiving the treatment in Japan.