New highly efective drugs for HCV therapy
Sofosbuvir is a high effective anti HCV drug that has almost 98% of efficacy in naive patients with HCV infection. This drug is produced by Gilead Sciences. This drug is prescribed orally for 12 weeks. Nevertheless its cost is $84,000 dollars complete treatment, that is $1,000 dollars for 400 mg pill!. (Though its production cost is around 1-2 dollars per pill)
This drug is not available in many middle and low-income countries where HCV is highly prevalent and mortality is high even with current therapies (pegilated interferon + ribavirin) (Latin-American, Africa China). Gilead Sciences has licensed some laboratories from India for manufacturing generic low cost drug for exporting it to some countries. Nevertheless most countries with high prevalence of the disease were not (intentionally) included.
According your opinion what measures governments of these countries should take at this regard?
Hello, Dear Sr. Diego!
Maybe it's an effort of Hepatologists Community of countries with resources limited designed to appeal to the vendors (GS).
Second. It may also be the development of innovative drugs similar sofosbuvir (costly variant).
Sincerely, Zmicer
Can use agencies such as "Doctors-Without-Borders" and other nonprofit organizations either local or international.
Praveen
AASLD (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) 2015 Guidelines and Boson Trial says, For Non-Cirrhotic and Compensated Cirrhosis, best choice is Sofosbuvir, Pegylated Interferon and Ribavarin for 12 weeks. For decompensated Cirrhosis Sofosbuvir plus Ribavarin for 24 weeks.
Hello Ammar!
I agree with you, Nevertheless presence of cirrhosis is not the only parameter for selection of treatment and time. Genotype of HCV has to be taken into account. For exemple: Sofosbuvir plus RBv plus Pg-IFN shoul be given to patients with Gen 1,4,5 and 6 with compensated chronic liver disease during 12 weeks. In patientes with Gen 2 : Sofosbuvir plus RBV is enoough for 12 weeks. For Gen 3 the last scheme should be given for 24 weeks.
Recently a combination of Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir has substituted IFN based therapies . Nevertheless, Harvoni, the brand name of combination of Sofos plus Ladipas only can be dream of patients with HCV in under developed countries where this kind of drugs are necesary due to its cost.
Hi Dzmitry! How are you doing?
I agree with you. However I think that not only hepatologists communities of countries needing this therapies have to push governements to reduce costs for patients. All the medical community and particularly social organizations of patientes with this disease. In a similar way that it was done for HIV antivirals.
Other important point is detection of disease people by public heath services of these countries.
Best regards and good work
Australian doctors have created a "Buyers Club" to help patients import generics legally to many areas including the US.
Hi Silvia: It is an interesting way to help patient to recieve low-cost treatment. Can you give me plase details concernig the constitution of this Club? I think we can implement this method in our country!
Thank you very much and best regards.
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