Friday, March 21, 2014

WellPoint says new hepatitis c drug prices are too high


 WellPoint says new hepatitis c drug prices are too high

(Reuters) - The head of WellPoint Inc's commercial business said on Friday that the price of new hepatitis c drugs, which are made by Gilead Sciences Inc and Johnson and Johnson, are too high.

Ken Goulet, speaking to investors, said the company is working with regulators and drug manufacturers to bring these prices down to a "reasonable" level.

He said that as of mid-February the company had filled 100 prescriptions for commercial members.

On the Medicaid side of the business, WellPoint said that it is working with states on trying to determine how to proceed with either figuring out a managed care cost for the drug or excluding the drug from the managed care plans.

 (Reporting by Caroline Humer, Editing by Franklin Paul)

Related: 
Gilead offers Egypt new hepatitis C drug at 99 percent discount

CAIRO/LONDON Sat Mar 22, 2014 1:40am

(Reuters) - Gilead Sciences, facing mounting criticism over the high price of its new hepatitis C pill Sovaldi, has offered to supply the medicine to Egypt at a 99 percent discount to the U.S. price.
Continue reading.......

Gilead-Democratic Leaders Request Briefing on Hepatitis C Drug Pricing
Today Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman, Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette sent a letter to Gilead Sciences Inc. Chief Executive Officer John C. Martin to request a briefing on pricing of the company's recently approved Hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi.

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