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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Gilead is not the only hope.
Post Info TOPIC: Gilead is not the only hope.
Angel67


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RE: Gilead is not the only hope.
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LC wrote:

Thank you Angel!  I've been trying to say this for a while that not only is Gilead NOT their only hope, sometimes it isn't even their best chance for SVR, but some folks apparently aren't understanding what I am saying -  http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t58926374/lets-talk-about-non-harvoni-treatments/  Treatment-naive genotype 1a's actually have greater success rate on the AbbVie combo.

Now as far as your situation goes, it's coming - Europe gives green light to AbbVie hepatitis C drugs, others so don't be discouraged.  All these companies are trying to cut each others throats, heck, I read where AbbVie has a patent on Harvoni and is planning to make Gilead pay royalities!  biggrin  Their intense competition generally translates into good things for us patients though. 

 

I think nearly all the big companies claimed to own a bit of Sovaldi...not sure how, guess they just just wanted a another piece of the pie!

-- Edited by LC on Thursday 27th of November 2014 08:20:40 PM

 



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Isiscat2011


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Harvoni was the first FDA approved all oral but it is only the beginning of many more to come.   Well said, LC.  



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Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
LC


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Thank you Angel!  I've been trying to say this for a while that not only is Gilead NOT their only hope, sometimes it isn't even their best chance for SVR, but some folks apparently aren't understanding what I am saying -  http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t58926374/lets-talk-about-non-harvoni-treatments/  Treatment-naive genotype 1a's actually have greater success rate on the AbbVie combo.

Now as far as your situation goes, it's coming - Europe gives green light to AbbVie hepatitis C drugs, others so don't be discouraged.  All these companies are trying to cut each others throats, heck, I read where AbbVie has a patent on Harvoni and is planning to make Gilead pay royalities!  biggrin  Their intense competition generally translates into good things for us patients though. 

 



-- Edited by LC on Thursday 27th of November 2014 08:20:40 PM

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Genotype 1a, VL 1,151,923.  51 years old.  Started treatment on AbbVie TOPAZ II clinical trial Oct 10, 2014!  Undetected at weeks 2 and 4! 
Harvoninme


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Angel "I could see insurance companies going under in America, if too many people come forward with HCV"

IMO, that could be the best case scenario. Maybe then we'd get a single payer, non-profit system  but they're 'Too big to fail', darnit. Upside to that scenario is they would have to seek government help proving what many of have known for decades; the free market system is the worst possible approach to healthcare.

The rush is coming one way or another in the US as at least half of the newly diagnosed folks will likely be in advanced stages of the disease and will require immediate treatment.

"I still pin my hopes on Achillion's pan-genic experiment, fingers crossed!"  I'll keep you in my prayers cuz sometimes She listens to me. ;)

 



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Isiscat2011


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Angel67 wrote:

 I could see insurance companies going under in America if too many people come forward with HCV, and while I have no time for such institutions I wonder how it is they could pay for everyone's treatment at the current prices. If the insurers went under, where would the ordinary man or woman be left? 

Exactly, Angel67.  To me they are all a bunch of vultures but the reality is that insurance companies and the public payers actually cannot afford to treat everyone at once at the present costs without going under.  Demanding that payers give F-0s the same priority as F-4s and that everyone be treated immediately is unrealistic, unproductive, and divisive to the HCV community.  

The costs need to come down--and will-- but the insurance industry cannot dictate Pharma pricing.  Paying excessive specialty drug prices on demand would only serve to keep the costs higher.  

As in most countries, Americans depend on someone else to pay their healthcare costs, because the costs are too high to pay out of pocket.  Perhaps not actually paying makes people out of touch with how much it really costs.  These drugs are the equivalent of a higher education, a luxury automobile, and depending on the duration of tx even comparable to a new house, or several years salary for the average American.  I guess some people don't understand that money really doesn't grow on trees.   

 

 



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Diagnosed in 2011, Incivek triple in 2011, tx discontinued, Genotype 1a, CT, VL 7mill, cirrhosis dx in 2012, age 67, waiting for new DAAs.
Angel67


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I really,really hope Achillion don't sell out. I am kind of coming round to the idea that I may never bother with any treatment at all! It's a gamble, but I just don't want to be involved with scum-bag extortionists! I could see insurance companies going under in America if too many people come forward with HCV, and while I have no time for such institutions I wonder how it is they could pay for everyone's treatment at the current prices. If the insurers went under, where would the ordinary man or woman be left? I don't think England will see much of this Sovaldi stuff....yeah it's got the go ahead but the sums just don't add up...and if a health authority doesn't have the money, well...you don't get the drug! As a type 3 I wouldn't get decent drugs anyway, so I still pin my hopes on Achillion's pan-genic experiment, fingers crossed!



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Harvoninme


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I liked your post, Angel67. Thanks.
"We can only wait and see what happens, but we must never underestimate the lengths that a drug company will go to to make the most profit." :( sad but true

I think your scenario of company buy-outs is likely. Sad part is, achillion BOD may welcome the golden parachute.

In my case, at no point along my journey did I ask for 'Harvoni', or any other specific drug. My goal from the minute I was diagnosed has been to be treated with the best available medication as soon as possible. I was finally approved for triple TX weeks before Harvoni was released and my INS company switched it to Gilead's new product at the last moment (to save costs, I'm sure). As crazy as it sounds, Harvoni is the next best, cheapest answer.

We can put pressure on our insurance companies hoping they will put pressure on the drug companies. Maybe this first rush will convince other Pharma companies to step up and deliver. As far as waiting for treatment in America, once Ocare fully kicks in in 3 years, millions of Americans will have access to HCV testing for the first time. That's going to create a very long line for meds, especially under these ridiculously strict treatment guidelines. We need to pave the way now for fast access to affordable treatment for everyone.

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Angel67


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It seems so many HCV sufferers are getting tunnel vision about Gilead and their wonderful(yet elusive)wares. They really are not the only player in the race for efficient HCV treatment. Aside from the other big names there are other companies doing good things. I stumbled across one such place called, Achillion. Now they are working on all sorts of liver related drugs, from HCV cures to anti liver cancer drugs and even an oral Interferon that is dirt cheap, a smaller dose and more efficient! Their party piece drugs ,ACH-3102( an NS5A inhibitor) and Sovaprevir (protease inhibitor) might not be as effective as Harvoni etc....but it's going to be close, and close enough is basically good enough. I believe that they will market their product at a price that is much cheaper than the extortionate Sovaldi/Harvoni. Furthermore I think that insurers will go to their product before Gilead's (because of the price difference). I read some pages from a financial investor and his team thought the same( so they invested money in the firm). This is all good news, but my only fear is that one of the pharmaceutical giants like Merck, will buy the small company and either close down the operation or hike the prices of their product right up( this is what Gilead did with Sovaldi, as Pharmasset, the real developers of the drug (developed at the American taxpayers expense), were going to market Sovaldi at $36,000...much more affordable than Gilead's $84,000). We can only wait and see what happens, but we must never underestimate the lengths that a drug company will go to to make the most profit....we can see this with Gilead. Excusing their extortionate prices on the grounds that they paid big $$ for another company is null and void. A big American company called Kraft recently acquired a small English one called Cadbury. Now Cadbury were born from Quakers and once upon a time they were benevolent...they even built a town for their workers (called,Bourneville) but those days are long gone. Okay, Kraft have made the chocolate bars smaller and they put the price up a bit...but not to $84,000 a bar! There is no way a fistful of pills could ever really be worth what they charge for them, and it isn't a valid argument to say we want our money back for the company we bought. So maybe we would should tell them to stick their tablets and those of us that can could hold out for another company to come up with good medicine? That company have now invoked hatred in me and I almost don't want the drug (Sovaldi) they didn't invent. While I concede fear would get the better of me and I would take it, I am personally pinning my hopes elsewhere...I just hope some big "Mammon" filled company doesn't buy out Achillion, as I wouldn't put it past them to just end their drug program.

http://www.achillion.com/



-- Edited by Angel67 on Thursday 27th of November 2014 10:44:31 AM



-- Edited by Angel67 on Thursday 27th of November 2014 10:45:15 AM

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