The hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) has shattered the U.S. record for sales of a drug during its first full quarter on the market, The New York Times reports. Gilead Sciences, which makes the drug, has sold about $2.3 billion worth of pills since Sovaldi came out last December, with about $2.1 billion coming from the United States.

Incivek, a hep C drug made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, held the previous record of $1.56 billion in the United States for its first four full quarters. Based on those numbers, it also appears Sovaldi has broken the U.S. record for first-year drug sales.

The once-a-day pill boasts a higher cure rate, shorter treatment time and fewer side effects than previous hep C drugs. However, Sovaldi’s price tag of $1,000 per pill—or $84,000 for a full 12-week course of treatment—has sparked a huge debate among members of the medical community, who claim the drug’s cost will put unnecessary financial strain on providers.

As the pharmaceutical company boasts first-quarter revenues of $5 billion (double that of a year ago) and a net income of more than $2.23 billion, public resistance against Gilead seems to be growing. Despite the recent financial success, its stock has been steadily declining since March.

Many insurance providers are limiting the use of Sovaldi to only those who desperately need a cure; others with hep C are encouraged to wait until newer, possibly better and cheaper drugs come out in 2015. Up to 4 million people in the United States are estimated to be living with HCV, but so far only 30,000 of them have tried the drug.

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