A transformative genetic treatment for a rare, inherited form ofblindness will come with a price tag of of $425,000 per eye, or $850,000for both, said Spark Therapeutics Inc., the tinybiotechnology company that is bringing the therapy to market.

Since Spark’s Luxturna was approved by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration last month, speculationover the price has grown as it became clear the therapy would beone of the first in a wave of medicines that yield remarkableresults after a single treatment -- and would carry a commensurate cost.

In a novel arrangement, Spark will offer discounts based onwhether or not the drug works initially and remains effective forthe estimated 1,000 to 2,000 patients in the U.S. with a type ofinherited retinal disease caused by a mutant gene.

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