Hi and welcome Grandmadailey, I believe this is what you are referring to. Actually we have a thread currently running asking for people to sign a petition so we can voice our concerns.
Here`s a link to the article I`m quoting from below, and the petition -
"The most effective new therapy for hepatitis C -- two pills that could cure nearly every patient treated -- may never see the light of day because the developers of these new medicines, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences, seem unable to work together. Apparently, profits are more important than best patient care. Best therapy combines Bristol's daclatasvir with Gilead's GS-7977. Each is a single pill administered once a day. The results from this new therapy are nothing short of spectacular -- an early cure rate of 100% for genotype 1 patients and 91% of genotype 2/3 patients, according to data from a mid-stage study announced Thursday at the European Association for the Study of Liver Disease (EASL) meeting. Amazingly, this most promising new treatment for hepatitis C patients may actually be discontinued because Bristol and Gilead can't work together. Gilead needs to justify that $11 billion and deliver profits and returns to its shareholders. Collaborating with Bristol would more than likely dilute Gilead's Hep C profits, which helps explain why Gilead isn't exactly thrilled to push ahead. Hep C patients in need of convenient and potent new cures are being hurt."
-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Saturday 16th of June 2012 09:13:28 PM
Cinnamon Girl said
Jun 22, 2012
Thanks for that Meghan, yes, let`s hope they get their act together!
I did the same, signed the petition and posted it on fb.
Keep signing folks!
~ Jill xx
LanaiSurferGirl said
Jun 18, 2012
Thanks Cinnamon girl! Here is an article explaining more about the situation: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/31/us-bristolmyers-gilead-idUSBRE84U0WC20120531
Gilead is going to try the tials with one of it's own drugs rather than collaborate with BMS....I think they should run both trials! :) These drug companies need to follow the other's example!
I am signing the petition and putting it on facebook too.
aloha,
meghan
LanaiSurferGirl said
Jun 16, 2012
What specifically are you referring to? Please provide an example. They do collaborate in that they need eachother's drugs to make theirs work better so share information that way....i.e. Vertex (incivik/telepravir) works with Roche (copegus/ribavirin), works with Genentech (pegasus/interferon).
Also, chemists work very hard in research to develop new drugs. The average time it takes is about 15 years from development & discovery through clinical trials and FDA approval.
The drugs have a patent on them that lasts 20 years (rightfully so since it took so much hard work to develop them) and then the market is open to generics.
It is an expensive process with many years in the making so yes, drug costs are high but they are working together...just look at clinicaltrials.gov and you can access all current and upcoming clinical trials for Hep C. All of them involve using multiple drugs from different pharmaceutical companies.
Grandmadailey said
Jun 16, 2012
I just read an article about the pharmacutical companies refusing to collaberate in their research for new treatments for Hep c because they want all the profits! This is disgusting! Why isn't our government more active in Hep c awareness and treatment? I am writing the President EVERY DAY until i get an answer. If we all write and our family and friends maybe we will get a response! PRESIDENT OBAMA
1600 Pennsyvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20500
LET'S START SOMETHING!!!!!!
Cinnamon Girl said
Jun 16, 2012
Hi and welcome Grandmadailey, I believe this is what you are referring to. Actually we have a thread currently running asking for people to sign a petition so we can voice our concerns.
Here`s a link to the article I`m quoting from below, and the petition -
"The most effective new therapy for hepatitis C -- two pills that could cure nearly every patient treated -- may never see the light of day because the developers of these new medicines, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences, seem unable to work together. Apparently, profits are more important than best patient care. Best therapy combines Bristol's daclatasvir with Gilead's GS-7977. Each is a single pill administered once a day. The results from this new therapy are nothing short of spectacular -- an early cure rate of 100% for genotype 1 patients and 91% of genotype 2/3 patients, according to data from a mid-stage study announced Thursday at the European Association for the Study of Liver Disease (EASL) meeting. Amazingly, this most promising new treatment for hepatitis C patients may actually be discontinued because Bristol and Gilead can't work together. Gilead needs to justify that $11 billion and deliver profits and returns to its shareholders. Collaborating with Bristol would more than likely dilute Gilead's Hep C profits, which helps explain why Gilead isn't exactly thrilled to push ahead. Hep C patients in need of convenient and potent new cures are being hurt."
Thanks for that Meghan, yes, let`s hope they get their act together!
I did the same, signed the petition and posted it on fb.
Keep signing folks!
~ Jill xx
Thanks Cinnamon girl! Here is an article explaining more about the situation: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/31/us-bristolmyers-gilead-idUSBRE84U0WC20120531
Gilead is going to try the tials with one of it's own drugs rather than collaborate with BMS....I think they should run both trials! :) These drug companies need to follow the other's example!
I am signing the petition and putting it on facebook too.
aloha,
meghan
What specifically are you referring to? Please provide an example. They do collaborate in that they need eachother's drugs to make theirs work better so share information that way....i.e. Vertex (incivik/telepravir) works with Roche (copegus/ribavirin), works with Genentech (pegasus/interferon).
Also, chemists work very hard in research to develop new drugs. The average time it takes is about 15 years from development & discovery through clinical trials and FDA approval.
The drugs have a patent on them that lasts 20 years (rightfully so since it took so much hard work to develop them) and then the market is open to generics.
It is an expensive process with many years in the making so yes, drug costs are high but they are working together...just look at clinicaltrials.gov and you can access all current and upcoming clinical trials for Hep C. All of them involve using multiple drugs from different pharmaceutical companies.
Hi and welcome Grandmadailey, I believe this is what you are referring to. Actually we have a thread currently running asking for people to sign a petition so we can voice our concerns.
Here`s a link to the article I`m quoting from below, and the petition -
http://www.change.org/petitions/gilead-sciences-a-phase-iii-collaboration-for-the-treatment-of-hepatitis-c
"The most effective new therapy for hepatitis C -- two pills that could cure nearly every patient treated -- may never see the light of day because the developers of these new medicines, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences, seem unable to work together. Apparently, profits are more important than best patient care. Best therapy combines Bristol's daclatasvir with Gilead's GS-7977. Each is a single pill administered once a day. The results from this new therapy are nothing short of spectacular -- an early cure rate of 100% for genotype 1 patients and 91% of genotype 2/3 patients, according to data from a mid-stage study announced Thursday at the European Association for the Study of Liver Disease (EASL) meeting. Amazingly, this most promising new treatment for hepatitis C patients may actually be discontinued because Bristol and Gilead can't work together. Gilead needs to justify that $11 billion and deliver profits and returns to its shareholders. Collaborating with Bristol would more than likely dilute Gilead's Hep C profits, which helps explain why Gilead isn't exactly thrilled to push ahead. Hep C patients in need of convenient and potent new cures are being hurt."
All best wishes, Jill xx
ps - And here`s a link to the petition thread.
http://hepcfriends.activeboard.com/t48951278/please-sign-this-petition/
-- Edited by Cinnamon Girl on Saturday 16th of June 2012 09:13:28 PM