For Hepatitis C Patients

[Pak1stani]

Read several report about Hepatitis in Pakistan and seems like it is becoming common now. Sofosbuvir, available under brand name of Sovaldi,is one breakthrough drug, but cost, around 1 crore, is very high for most of Pakistanis. I hope Govt. of Pakistan can do something for cheap access to this drug.

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Gilead Cures 9,000 Hep C Patients—and Collects $5.7 Billion

The blockbuster hepatitis C drug Sovaldi has generated a staggering $5.7 billion in sales over the first half of 2014, according to an earnings report on Wednesday fromGilead Sciences (GILD). The medicine has attracted attention both for its effectiveness—it helps cure the deadly liver disease in 90 percent of patients—and its $84,000 price for a three-month course of treatment. Gilead noted on its earnings call that it believes 9,000 people have been cured so far.
Sovaldi isn’t the first high-priced drug, but its potential population of patients is huge: Three million Americans are estimated to have hepatitis C, although many are asymptomatic and unaware they’re infected. Insurance companies and government health-care programs unprepared for the cost are still trying to decidewho should get the drug. That may be contributing to monthly sales leveling off since skyrocketing to nearly $1 billion a month, according to data from IMS Health.

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It is reaching thousands of patients. It’s essentially tripled or quadrupled the treated population of hepatitis C patients,” says Michael Kleinrock, director of research and development at the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. “The only question that we have is how many more people can be treated when there are emerging restrictions on access.”
VIDEO: Big Beat for Gilead on Rising Sovaldi Revenue

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The high cost has attracted questions from Congress. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) requested details this month from the company on how it set its prices, noting that the company that developed Sovaldi, which Gilead acquired for $11 billion, originally expected to price the drug at $36,000. U.S. Representative Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) used Gilead’s earnings report as an occasion to suggest that Medicare should pay less for costly drugs.
Some commercial health plans are still determining how they’ll cover Sovaldi. Health-care buyers have to balance the cost of the drug with the benefit of curing a deadly disease.
Gilead is making the case that its drug is worth it, even if insurance companies aren’t used to paying the price. “We are curing people of a horrible disease in a very rapid time frame,” John Milligan, Gilead’s president and chief operating officer, told analysts on Wednesday. “That’s a very unusual thing for payers to think about.”

http://www.businessweek.com/article...ep-c-cases-with-sovaldi-makes-5-dot-7-billion



Check this for more details http://www.sovaldi.com/

 

[Ali.Pakistani]

In Pakistan Hep. C also prevails at a very high rate. I had been following news about oral medications of Hep. C from a long time. Even I contacted the Gilead through email and they responded personally. But they didn't answer directly about the high price of the drug specially when it comes to countries like ours where our local currency is much much depreciated. However I have learned that they are going to provide their drug at about 90% off (as far as I remember) in four developing countries initially. Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan and some other 4th country and they say that they are committed about this. I have also come to know that from sources that GETZ PHARAMA is trying is best to bring this drug in Pakistan. Let's hope this will not take much time and will be reasonably priced. Govt. seriousness in this matter is a MUST TO DO THING.

May ALLAH bless us all with a good health and cure the infected ones, Aameen!

 

[llvlludassar]

Boss pharmaceutical mafia does not make drugs for poor people.

 

[ASQR1]

Does some other Drug companies not make generic of this drug, it should be easy and cheap, that is what is in force in Canada, generic drugs. So why not Pakistan have it made by a reputable Drug company, but than noras have no desire to help common mans, they only help thier family.

 

[Pak1stani]

I think govt should involved in bringing such life saving drugs to check, control prices, availability and quality

In Pakistan Hep. C also prevails at a very high rate. I had been following news about oral medications of Hep. C from a long time. Even I contacted the Gilead through email and they responded personally. But they didn't answer directly about the high price of the drug specially when it comes to countries like ours where our local currency is much much depreciated. However I have learned that they are going to provide their drug at about 90% off (as far as I remember) in four developing countries initially. Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan and some other 4th country and they say that they are committed about this. I have also come to know that from sources that GETZ PHARAMA is trying is best to bring this drug in Pakistan. Let's hope this will not take much time and will be reasonably priced. Govt. seriousness in this matter is a MUST TO DO THING.

May ALLAH bless us all with a good health and cure the infected ones, Aameen!