https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/28/hepatitis-a-san-diego-deaths “Deadliest outbreak of hepatitis A in decades kills 14 in San Diego. Some 264 people have been hospitalized, roughly 70% of them homeless, in an outbreak that began last November.”
Kelly Davis in San Diego, Monday 28 August 2017
Just above the reporters name was a label: “Supported by Bill and Melinda Gates” — I don’t know in relation to what.
But — and I do mean but — that made it occur to me that the top ten richest billionaires in the US could not put together enough — all of their — money to pay for a cure for the 7 million Hepatitis sufferers in the US. Not at $75,000 a treatment that Gilead demands = $500 billion. Gilead’s, Hep C treatment Sovaldi reported to cost $150 a treatment to manufacture so I’m guess something the same range for Epclusa.
Could the drug have kept David Crosby from a transplant?
There is a radio spot in the Boston market which says “CDC estimates that 3% of baby boomers; 1945 to 1965, have the Hep C virus”. This is because there were no tests for the virus and anyone transfused up to the 70’s could be exposed and sometimes the virus lays dormant for years.
The ad was paid by Gilead, and is BS!
I have a liver specialist for another mostly benign issue and we have not discussed the test nor has my PCP. I have had MRI’s and annual sonograms, so they have ‘seen’ mine.
I know a boomer with Hep C and the drugs worked, but he had been diagnosed and had observable liver changes.
For Gilead you have the test bc you have insurance and if you have the virus they make $80K it is approved so your insurance would cove!
For 3% and no symptoms the insurance cos should say no!
Ilsm,
Not to worry. After Gilead’s 20 year patent runs out we will be able to wipe out all forms of Hep in this country in 90 days. Ditto for the world — the world not likely to come up with the $22.5 trillion (at American prices anyway) in the meantime.
At $200 a generic treatment:
$1.4 billion (assuming same 7 million patients) for USA only;
$60 billion for all 300 million patients.
Mmm; wonder how much it will cost to treat Hep patients in this country alone for 20 years — who will show progressive disease? So far it’s multi-billions every year for Gilead’s Hep C drug Sovaldi alone.
My brother dies a few years ago. He was an organ donor but it turned out he had Hep B and didn’t know it (couldn’t use organs).
“Because of its massive success in hepatitis C — $14.8 billion in sales in 2016 — it needs something to replace that income stream as those sales drop off as competition increases and existing patients are successfully treated.”
“It’s like the monster in ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ It’s the monster that keeps needing to be fed,” said Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health Policy Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “They’re beholden to growth expectations … the next asset has to deliver even more. Their success in hepatitis C is going to actually drive prices in cancer up.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
$14.8 billion should cure about 150,000 (99% Hep C cure) patients — about 5% of the total. Maybe we should give in and up the $300 billion now — or use laws that exist now to take away the excessive pricing patent.
I seem to have bungled a big one above. Epclusa works for all forms of Hepatitis C — not on any other form. Seem to have misread something a while back and never rechecked it.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/28/hepatitis-a-san-diego-deaths
“Deadliest outbreak of hepatitis A in decades kills 14 in San Diego. Some 264 people have been hospitalized, roughly 70% of them homeless, in an outbreak that began last November.”
Kelly Davis in San Diego, Monday 28 August 2017
Just above the reporters name was a label: “Supported by Bill and Melinda Gates” — I don’t know in relation to what.
But — and I do mean but — that made it occur to me that the top ten richest billionaires in the US could not put together enough — all of their — money to pay for a cure for the 7 million Hepatitis sufferers in the US. Not at $75,000 a treatment that Gilead demands = $500 billion. Gilead’s, Hep C treatment Sovaldi reported to cost $150 a treatment to manufacture so I’m guess something the same range for Epclusa.
Epclusa. There is a cure.
14 dead and 264 hospitalized.
Denis Drew,
Could the drug have kept David Crosby from a transplant?
There is a radio spot in the Boston market which says “CDC estimates that 3% of baby boomers; 1945 to 1965, have the Hep C virus”. This is because there were no tests for the virus and anyone transfused up to the 70’s could be exposed and sometimes the virus lays dormant for years.
The ad was paid by Gilead, and is BS!
I have a liver specialist for another mostly benign issue and we have not discussed the test nor has my PCP. I have had MRI’s and annual sonograms, so they have ‘seen’ mine.
I know a boomer with Hep C and the drugs worked, but he had been diagnosed and had observable liver changes.
For Gilead you have the test bc you have insurance and if you have the virus they make $80K it is approved so your insurance would cove!
For 3% and no symptoms the insurance cos should say no!
Ilsm,
Not to worry. After Gilead’s 20 year patent runs out we will be able to wipe out all forms of Hep in this country in 90 days. Ditto for the world — the world not likely to come up with the $22.5 trillion (at American prices anyway) in the meantime.
At $200 a generic treatment:
$1.4 billion (assuming same 7 million patients) for USA only;
$60 billion for all 300 million patients.
Mmm; wonder how much it will cost to treat Hep patients in this country alone for 20 years — who will show progressive disease? So far it’s multi-billions every year for Gilead’s Hep C drug Sovaldi alone.
My brother dies a few years ago. He was an organ donor but it turned out he had Hep B and didn’t know it (couldn’t use organs).
Oh, No!
Gilead’s $11.9 billion purchase of a groundbreaking cancer therapy could drag it into a new debate on prices
By Carolyn Y. Johnson August 29 at 5:06 PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/08/29/gileads-11-9-billion-purchase-of-a-groundbreaking-cancer-therapy-could-drag-it-into-a-new-debate-on-prices/?utm_term=.7e4af1273697
“Because of its massive success in hepatitis C — $14.8 billion in sales in 2016 — it needs something to replace that income stream as those sales drop off as competition increases and existing patients are successfully treated.”
“It’s like the monster in ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ It’s the monster that keeps needing to be fed,” said Peter Bach, director of the Center for Health Policy Outcomes at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “They’re beholden to growth expectations … the next asset has to deliver even more. Their success in hepatitis C is going to actually drive prices in cancer up.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
$14.8 billion should cure about 150,000 (99% Hep C cure) patients — about 5% of the total. Maybe we should give in and up the $300 billion now — or use laws that exist now to take away the excessive pricing patent.
I seem to have bungled a big one above. Epclusa works for all forms of Hepatitis C — not on any other form. Seem to have misread something a while back and never rechecked it.