NPR-Ed Silverman, Dr. William Carey Discuss: New Pan-genotypic HCV Drugs: Cost & Cure

Wellness Wednesday: Hepatitis C, Plastic Surgery Safety

Oct 11, 2017
Program available online at WOSU Radio, hosted by Ann Fisher.

In case you missed it, last week on the morning edition of NPR News, Ed Silverman, senior writer and Pharmalot columnist, STAT News, and Dr. William Carey, senior hepatologist in the Department of Gastroenterology, Cleveland Clinic, sat down to discuss cost and cure rates of the newly approved drugs used to treat all HCV genotypes.

Topics
Estimated 180,000 people with HCV go untreated
Gilead, AbbVie and Merck - Cost, price competition, treatment duration, and HCV cure rates
Disease progression
HCV Generics

The interview is about 15 minutes long, starting point is at 15.35, or fifteen minutes into the program.

Link
Listen Live - NPR News

Of Interest - On This Blog
Hepatitis C Timeline
First recorded references to hepatitis epidemics, to the 1989 discovery of the hepatitis C virus, as well as HCV discontinued agents, ending with the FDA approved treatments used today.

Tampa Bay woman with Hepatitis C reduces co-pay for treatments with coupon

Tampa Bay woman with Hepatitis C reduces co-pay for treatments with coupon
By Gayle Guyardo Published: October 31, 2016, 5:35 am

Wendy Latorre, of Pasadena, says when she heard about the drugs she was extremely hopeful. “And then I found out what the cost was, most people do about 12 weeks and it’s about $120,000,” she said.

Even with insurance coverage, Latorre’ s co-pay of $6,000 a month, made the drug out of reach, until Latorre found a hidden link for a coupon on Harvoni’s official website.

She entered her first and last name, date of birth, and zip code and then came surprise call from her insurance company.

“Five dollars for all eight weeks of treatment. It’s like my lucky day, it’s like I hit the lottery,” said LaTorre.

Continue reading....

Gilead U.S. Patient Assistance Programs

Gilead Patient Assistance Programs

Our U.S. patient assistance programs help make Gilead therapies accessible for uninsured individuals and those who need financial assistance.

Support Path™ assists eligible hepatitis C patients in the United States access Sovaldi® (sofosbuvir) or Harvoni® (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir). The program consists of an integrated offering of support services for patients and providers, among them:

A call center staffed with associates trained to help patients and their providers with insurance-related needs.

Education and support, including a 24/7 nursing support service line.

The Sovaldi and Harvoni Co-pay Coupon Programs, which provide co-pay assistance for eligible patients with private insurance who need assistance paying for their out-of-pocket medication costs. 

Most patients will pay no more than $5 per co-pay.

The Support Path Patient Assistance Program will provide Sovaldi and Harvoni at no charge for eligible patients with no other insurance options.

To learn more about Support Path for Sovaldi® and Harvoni®, please call 1-855-769-7284, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

Click here.....

Harvoni FDA APPROVED

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Gilead’s Harvoni® (Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir), the First Once-Daily Single Tablet Regimen for the Treatment of Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C

Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir)

Gilead has published both U.S. Prescribing Information and Patient Information, on their support website.

In addition check out HCV Advocates new factsheet for; Genotype 1:Treatment: Harvoni (Sofosbuvir & Ledipasvir), other factsheets include; Sovaldi: Genotype 1 Triple Therapy, Sovaldi: Genotype 2 & 3 and Sovaldi: Genotype 4 Triple Therapy

In case you missed it; HCV Newsetters: Everything you need to know about Gilead's Harvoni