Hepatitis drugs are becoming more affordable
Drugs therapies to cure hepatitis C and treat hepatitis B are becoming more affordable as prices are dropping dramatically, giving hope to 325 million people living with the viral liver disease that can be fatal, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
A generic antiviral drug for hepatitis C, which can be cured in three months, was recently placed on WHO’s list of pre-qualified medicines. That means it can be used safely by aid agencies and countries for bulk purchasing.
“Indeed, the first drug sofosbuvir has now been pre-qualified, that means it is quality-assured through the WHO prequalified mechanism, which is very good news,” said Dr. Gottfried Hirnschall, director of the WHO department of HIV and global hepatitis program.
The drug is made by Mylan NV.
It joins Daclatasvir, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, on the list.
“Sofosbuvir started out costing US$84,000 for a three-month curative treatment. And the prices have come down even in high- income countries to lower levels. But in low- and middle-income countries the prices are now down to US$250 and less. And that is exactly what is needed,” Hirnschall said.
“We hope that many more will follow,” he said.
Hirnschall, who declined to name companies that have applied for drugs to be prequalified, later said by email: “Four more products from other manufacturers are in the pipeline and we expect two of these to be prequalified very soon.”
Tenofovir, an HIV drug that is also the most effective treatment for hepatitis B, is available for just US$48 per year in many low-income countries including South Africa, he said.
Overall, hepatitis B affects 257 million patients who require life-long treatment while 71 million have hepatitis C. Viral hepatitis, which can cause cirrhosis or liver cancer, affects 325 million people worldwide – a figure which includes three million suffering from both killer forms, according to WHO.
About 1.34 million people die annually from viral hepatitis, almost the same toll as from tuberculosis and more than from HIV. Hepatitis is spread through injecting drug use and unsafe use of syringes in hospitals, as well as sexually.
Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals
