Generic Substitute for $94,000 Drug To Be Released Jan. 2019

Harvoni drug cost in the US for a three month, 84 tablet course of therapy, is $94,500. The same drug if purchased in India for example costs $900 for 3 months 84 tablet course………………

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    

 

September 27, 2018                                                        Contact: Bob Serber

rserber@hhcgroup.com

(301) 963-0762 ext. 163

 

Generic Form of a Hepatitis C Medication Treatment Due to Be Released in January, 2019

 

Recognizing the importance and ever increasing financial impact of prescription drugs, HHC Group provides drug management consulting services. As part this service, we endeavor to keep the industry apprised of major developments in the prescription drug marketplace. Gilead Sciences, Inc.’s announcement of its generic form of Epclusa and Harvoni is just such a development.

 

Gilead Sciences, Inc.(NASDAQ: GILD) announced today plans to launch authorized generic versions of Epclusa® (sofosbuvir 400mg/velpatasvir 100mg) and Harvoni® (ledipasvir 90mg/sofosbuvir 400mg), Gilead’s leading treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), in the United States, through a newly created subsidiary, Asegua Therapeutics LLC. The authorized generics will launch at a list price of $24,000 for the most common course of therapy and will be available in January 2019.

 

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C Virus. About 3.9 million people in the U.S. have the disease, but as it causes few symptoms, most patients don’t realize that they have it. Symptoms include Jaundice (Yellowing of the eyes and skin), Stomach Pain, Loss of Appetite, Aching joints, Nausea and Fatigue. There are many forms of the hepatitis C virus. The most common in the U.S. is type 1.

 

For insurers, the cost of a treatment sends shivers up their spine. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October, 2014, Harvoni® is a drug that treats Hepatitis C (Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir) and has up to a 95% cure rate, with a 1-2% relapse of the disease after a 12 week 84 tablet course of therapy. To save in costs, the drug may be given up to an 8 week course and then reassess (http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/GT1_Harvoni.pdf).

 

Manufactured by Gilead Science, the cost in the US for a three month, 84 tablet course of therapy, is $94,500. The same drug if purchased in India for example costs $900 for 3 months 84 tablet course. Why the discrepancy? It is due to many factors such as regulation, import duties, marketing costs, market size, specific country economics, local affordability, complexity of the country’s drug distribution systems, and so on.

 

A generic version is on the way! Officials with Gilead Sciences, Inc., plan to launch authorized generic versions of sofosbuvir 400 mg/velpatasvir 100 mg (Epclusa®) and ledipasvir 90mg/sofosbuvir 400 mg (Harvoni®), Gilead’s leading treatments for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV), in the United States, through a new subsidiary, Asegua Therapeutics LLC, according to a press release from the company (Below). The drug is due to be released in January 2019 with an overall cost of about $24,000 per course of treatment. This is excellent news for all involved who pay for this therapy and treatment!

 

HHC Group Prescription Drug Management Consulting Services

 

HHC Group provides drug formulary consulting services, guidance regarding drug therapy options and answers to questions regarding drug therapies. These services are directed by Dr. Bruce D. Roffé P.D., M.S., H.I.A., HHC Group’sPresident and CEO. Dr. Roffé is an expert in medication treatment, hospital cost, hospital charges, and how they relate in terms of hospital, physician, patient, and home care practice settings.

 

He received his B.S. in Chemistry from Pace University in New York and a B.S. in Pharmacy from Columbia University. He was granted a Master of Science Degree in Hospital Pharmacy from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He completed an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

 

Prior to founding HHC Group in 1995, Dr. Roffé served as an Assistant Director of Pharmacy at the Detroit Receiving Hospital and University Health Center (the inner city trauma and the tertiary medical referral center for the City of Detroit), functioned as a Branch and Regional General Manager for Caremark’s and HNS’s home infusion therapies operations, and was as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Hospital Pharmacy at Wayne State University. He has published numerous articles in national pharmaceutical journals addressing cost containment and quality assurance issues.

 

For information regarding HHC Group’s prescription drug management consulting services, please contact Dr. Roffé at 301-963-0762 ext. 101 or via email at broffe@hhcgroup.com.

 

About HHC Group  

 

HHC Group is a leading national health insurance consulting company providing a wide range of cost containment solutions for Insurers, Third Party Administrators, Self-Insured Employee Health Plans, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), ERISA and Government Health Plans. HHC Grouputilizes a combination of highly skilled professionals and advanced information technology tools to consistently deliver targeted solutions, significant savings and exceptional client service.

 

HHC Group’s services include Claim Negotiation, Claim Repricing, Medicare Based Pricing, DRG Validation, Medical Bill Review (Audit), Claims Editing, Medical Peer Reviews/Independent Reviews, Independent Medical Examinations (IME), Case Management Utilization Review, Data Mining, Disease Management and Pharmacy Consulting.

 

For additional information about HHC Group and our services, visit www.hhcgroup.com or contact Bob Serber at rserber@hhcgroup.com or 301-963-0762 ext. 163.