Patients Get Extreme to Obtain Hepatitis Drug That's 1% the Cost Outside U.S.
by Shannon Pettypiece
Ketaki Gokhale
His plan: Dock a cruise ship flying an Indian flag off the coast of Miami. Stock the ship with versions of Sovaldi sold in India for $83,000 less than the U.S. retail price for 12 weeks of treatment. Ferry U.S. patients to the boat and send them home with the potentially life-saving medicines at a huge discount.
The only wrinkle in his plan wasn’t the absurdity of a pharmacy benefit manager manning and operating a cruise ship full of drugs from India. The problem, after doing some quick research into the idea, was that it would probably violate U.S. drug re-importation laws that limit the value of drugs brought into the country to $1,500 -- the price of one and a half Sovaldi tablets in the U.S., said Steve Miller, chief medical officer at Express Scripts, who came up with the idea.
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Hep C drug tourism has begun as patients seek Harvoni, Sovaldi overseas
Tracy Staton
So, companies that set up medical-related trips abroad--which often means plastic surgery or joint replacements these days--are starting to put together channels for hepatitis C treatment. Doctors who'll prescribe to foreign patients, for instance. One Indian company that specializes in sourcing hard-to-find drugs has been getting dozens of calls every day since the first generics rolled out there
Hep C drug tourism has begun as patients seek Harvoni, Sovaldi overseas
Tracy Staton
Now, say hello to hep C tourism. As Jonathan Edelheit, CEO of the Florida-based Medical Tourism Association, toldBloomberg, "I know people who have hepatitis C and the only thing they can think about is getting this drug. There is definitely a high interest in going abroad."
So, companies that set up medical-related trips abroad--which often means plastic surgery or joint replacements these days--are starting to put together channels for hepatitis C treatment. Doctors who'll prescribe to foreign patients, for instance. One Indian company that specializes in sourcing hard-to-find drugs has been getting dozens of calls every day since the first generics rolled out there
June Updates
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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