Generic Versions of Sofosbuvir based Hepatitis C drugs have forced prices for Hep C drugs down globally

Generic Hep C Drugs

Once a person learns they have Hepatitis C the first thing that they want to know is how to cure Hep C.

Only a few years back the only Hep C drugs were Interferon + Ribavirin, which was a terrible Hep C treatment with terrible side effects and a very low cure rate.

Then along came the Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs). Suddenly the Hep C virus could be treated easily with very few side effects and a high cure rate.

The first of these new Hep C meds was Sovaldi (Sofosbuvir 400 mg) marketed by GILEAD SCIENCES.

Sovladi became instantly notorious because of its high price and for a few years, it was the most expensive substance on Earth.

Because of the huge profits to be made from treating Hepatitis C, very quickly, other Big Pharma companies started making their own DAAs, which did not affect the prices but did increase treatment options.

Then India refused to grant a patent for Sofosbuvir and Indian Pharma manufacturers began to make generic versions of  Sovaldi and the other DAAs.

Direct Acting Antivirals… the revolution in Hepatitis C Drugs

The first three Hepatitis C drugs were all Sofosbuvir based:

1. Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir (Harvoni) for treatment of Hep C Genotype 1 and 4
2. Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir for treatment of all genotypes
3. Sofosbuvir + Velpatasvir (Epclusa) for treatment of all genotypes

They were soon followed by another range of hep C drugs:

1. Zepatier which was the combination of Elbasvir/grazoprevir . It was used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 and was made by the Big Pharma company MERKE.
2. Mavyret which was the combination of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and made by the Big Pharma company AbbVie Inc. and was quite effective for treatment of patients with all genotypes of Hep C

In most situations, the Sofosbuvir based treatments will give a slightly higher cure rate than the non Sofosbuvir based Hep C drugs, especially if the patient has cirrhosis of the liver or has failed previous treatment. For Genotype 1b Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir will give a slightly higher cure rate than Harvoni.

For more information on which Hep C drugs to use to treat a particular genotype of Hep C please click this link.

Generic Hep C Drugs

Because India did not agree to give GILEAD a patent on Sofosbuvir GILEAD was forced to negotiate licensing deals with the Indian Hep C drug manufacturers or lose control of the Hep C drug market.
So, in exchange for royalty payments and other conditions, GILEAD gave Indian Hep C drug manufacturers access to all the intellectual property associated with manufacturing GILEAD’s Hep C medications.
This means that licensed generic Hep C drugs from India are identical in every way to GILEAD’s brand versions of the same drugs… identical in every way except price.

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