Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Express Scripts looks to force Gilead to cut price of Sovaldi
Apr 8 2014, 07:36 ET
Express Scripts (ESRX) plans to ask its clients, which include employers, health insurance plans and government agencies, to join a group that would stop using Gilead's (GILD) Sovaldi treatment for Hepatitis C once the FDA has approved rival drugs.
Express Scripts has already said it could block reimbursement for Sovaldi once other therapies are on the market, which could come next year.
Gilead has come under intense criticism for charging $84,000 for a 12-week course of Sovaldi.
Express Scripts' annual Drug Trend Report estimates that spending on specialty drugs such as Sovaldi increased 14% in 2013 and forecasts it will jump a further 63% by the end of 2016.
Apr 8 2014, 07:36 ET
Express Scripts (ESRX) plans to ask its clients, which include employers, health insurance plans and government agencies, to join a group that would stop using Gilead's (GILD) Sovaldi treatment for Hepatitis C once the FDA has approved rival drugs.
Express Scripts has already said it could block reimbursement for Sovaldi once other therapies are on the market, which could come next year.
Gilead has come under intense criticism for charging $84,000 for a 12-week course of Sovaldi.
Express Scripts' annual Drug Trend Report estimates that spending on specialty drugs such as Sovaldi increased 14% in 2013 and forecasts it will jump a further 63% by the end of 2016.
Here's the link: http://seekingalpha.com/news/1664463-express-scripts-looks-to-force-gilead-to-cut-price-of-sovaldi
But it doesn't say what drugs they are referring to? Most txs on the forefront rely on Sovaldi in various combinations.
The companies that will be second and third to the market here will have to play catch up, Miller said. We could shift the market share as soon as a competitor comes out. We need to start a national debate on fairness in drug pricing.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-08/express-scripts-raises-pressure-on-gilead-for-drug-price.html
I agree, WG, "hmmmmm..." Not liking the sound of this, really. If this happens, it means a longer wait time for those who are waiting now for non-Interferon and non-Riba tx unless Gilead buckles under to the pressure, but I'm not sure they will any time soon.
Sovaldi + Olysio, off-label, is Riba/Intf free, but of course that's off-label, and we know insurance is balking at the price now and not approving most requests for this. Soon (by the end of this year) Gilead will have Ledipasvir added to their Sovaldi, FDA approved 1 pill a day tx. Again, though, the price. Insurance companies don't want to pay for Sovaldi, and who knows what the Sova/Led combo will cost. Can Gilead be "forced" to lower its prices? I just don't know.
If Sovaldi and Sovalid/Ledipasvir are going to be "shunned" by insurance companies, some people who really can't wait will have to do treatments with Riba if they go with Abbvie, assuming insurance will even pay for THAT. The other route would be Sovalid/ Daclatasvir when Dac. is FDA approved, but there we go off-label again and steep price.
I am speaking of Geno 1's here - I'm not keeping up on what's in the works for the other genos.
While the national debate drags on about fair drug pricing, so many many people with HCV are caught and stuck with no viable tx. It's just a shame.
I just wish for an effective treatment without Interferon and Ribavirin that is available to EVERYONE. I know we all feel that way. Politics and healthcare in bed together, as allabout has written, is not a good thing.
They have lots of wiggle room!