Burman's Specialty Pharmacy shows hepatitis C cure possible while cutting a third of the drug costs

Burman's Specialty Pharmacy study shows hepatitis C cure possible while cutting a third of the drug costs

MEDIA, Pa., June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Burman's Specialty Pharmacy, a Diplomat company, announced a study showing that more than a quarter of hepatitis C patients may be treated with an eight-week therapy, four weeks shorter than the drug manufacturers originally expected. This represents potential for a huge cost savings in a health care ecosystem where hepatitis C treatments have posed a looming problem for payor organizations.

According to the study – reported in 'Specialty Pharmacy News' June edition – among 1,093 genotype 1a and 1b patients who have completed treatment over the last six months, 385, or 35%, had a clinical profile that qualified them for eight weeks, instead of 12 weeks, of Harvoni® therapy. "We worked with physicians on prescribing the shortened therapy for 284, or 74%, of those patients," said Paul Urick, president of Managed Markets and Industry Relations. The indicated population is treatment-naive and noncirrhotic, with an initial viral load of less than 6 million.

"An eight-week treatment cycle's wholesale acquisition costs average $63,000, a savings of $31,500 versus a 12-week treatment cycle," Urick added. "This is a great opportunity to make a difference to patients, and it's great for payors as well."

For Burman's qualifying patients:
A 12-week regimen of Harvoni® would have cost $26,923,050.
An eight-week regimen of Harvoni® totaled $17,948,700.
Savings amounted to $8,974,350 in Harvoni® costs alone.

"We know that not all physicians will be willing to prescribe eight weeks of treatment at all times," Urick said, "especially since each patient may have extenuating circumstances beyond prior treatment status and cirrhotic status, among other factors. It's at physicians' discretion as to how long they want to treat patients. Still, nearly 75% of patients who qualified did achieve a cure with 8-weeks of treatment for their Hepatitis C disease."

Burman's adds to this cost savings with enhanced therapy management. Burman's proprietary software platform HealthTrac is specifically designed to navigate the complexities of hepatitis C therapy and allow pharmacists and providers to collaborate on patient care.

"Our approach to hepatitis C therapy is based on collaboration between all parties in a patient's treatment continuum," said Steve Burman, president and CEO of Burman's. "Our goal is to maintain the high-touch treatment experience that drives a cure for our patients while driving down the costs that too often prevent care. Ultimately, we would like to affect real policy change that improves access to cures."

To learn more about Burman's Specialty Pharmacy, visit www.burmansmedical.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give current expectations or forecasts of future events or our future financial or operating performance, and in this press release include the potential for an eight-week hepatitis C therapy with significant cost savings and Diplomat's distribution of the drug(s) set forth above (and any implied financial impact). The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information, and these statements are qualified by important risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those forecasted or indicated by such forward-looking statements. These risks include sampling size and other risks related to conducting drug studies, the number of patients prescribed such drug(s) currently and in the future, patient's adherence to such drug(s), the number of distributors on panel and our relative distribution share, the timing of drug sales, the cost of such drug(s) and reimbursement rates by payors, drug competition, and the factors set forth in "Risk Factors" in Diplomat's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and in subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as may be required by any applicable laws, Diplomat assumes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements, which are made as of the date hereof or the earlier date specified herein, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

About Burman's Specialty Pharmacy

Burman's is a leader in disease-specific treatment programs and has been in business for more than 50 years. Burman's comprehensive services and patient-first approach help patients and physicians navigate the complex waters of a variety of challenging health conditions, all while achieving improved results. Burman's offers individualized pharmaceutical care for a variety of challenging health conditions and complex drug therapies. To learn more, visit www.burmansmedical.com.