The Fair Pricing Coalition (FPC) supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of Harvoni, Gilead Sciences’ new treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to an FPC statement. However, the HIV and hep C advocacy group wants the drug company to establish a price for Harvoni treatment that isn’t based on how many weeks people take the once-daily pill.
Combining Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and ledipasvir, Harvoni does not require either interferon or ribavirin. In its statement, the FPC concurs with Gilead that Harvoni has long-term cost-saving potential. The FPC also acknowledges that Gilead has continued to maintain a free medications program for low-income, uninsured HCV-positive patients.
However, the FPC wants Gilead to extend the eight-week wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for Harvoni to all patients, regardless of their duration on the drug. The current WAC for Harvoni is set at $1,125 per pill, which translates to $63,000 for eight weeks of treatment, $94,500 for 12 weeks and $189,000 for 24 weeks.
The FPC argues that setting a flat price of $63,000 would help ensure patients needing longer treatments would not be restricted because of cost from taking Harvoni, which the FDA approved October 10.
Fair Pricing Coalition Seeks Uniform Price for Harvoni Treatment
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