By Robert Langreth
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD:US) and AbbVie Inc. (ABBV:US), engaged in a price war over hepatitis C drugs, are offering such substantial discounts that one benefit manager has decided to cover both medicines rather than get a lower price for one through an exclusive deal.
A “substantial reduction” in the price for Gilead’s Harvoni and AbbVie’s competing Viekira Pak made it possible to give both drugs preferred status and still save more money than through an exclusive deal, said Prime Therapeutics LLC. Prime, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, covers 25 million patients in non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans for people in 23 states.
“We are receiving market-leading rates from both companies,” said Peter Wickersham, a senior vice president in charge of specialty drugs for Prime, in a telephone interview. “Neither company wanted to be left off the formulary.”
A “substantial reduction” in the price for Gilead’s Harvoni and AbbVie’s competing Viekira Pak made it possible to give both drugs preferred status and still save more money than through an exclusive deal, said Prime Therapeutics LLC. Prime, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, covers 25 million patients in non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans for people in 23 states.
“We are receiving market-leading rates from both companies,” said Peter Wickersham, a senior vice president in charge of specialty drugs for Prime, in a telephone interview. “Neither company wanted to be left off the formulary.”
Continue reading @ Bloomberg
Updated Jan 12, 2015
Reducing the cost of new hepatitis C drugs
Daclatasvir, Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir)/Sovaldi/Viekira Pak.
An index of articles pointing the reader to the current controversy over the high price of Sovaldi, Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) and AbbVie Viekira Pak.
Updated Jan 12, 2015
Reducing the cost of new hepatitis C drugs
Daclatasvir, Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir)/Sovaldi/Viekira Pak.
An index of articles pointing the reader to the current controversy over the high price of Sovaldi, Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) and AbbVie Viekira Pak.
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