 And it's probably working now because more advanced brain scans can pick up the disease earlier so the drug can be given much sooner. Three people, less than 1% of patients involved in the testing, did die of bleeding and swelling in the brain. Eli Lilly estimates the list price for this new medication, newly approved, to be more than $30,000 a year, though the cost will vary depending on patient's insurance and the length of treatment. 1055.