I'm sure many Ins. Co's have made their own deals with Gilead, but the retail price on 12 weeks of Harvoni still stands at $94,500. I'm not aware of their prices to state governments. That's an outrage and why they're under the eye of regulators and Congress. I spoke with a pharmacy recently and was told that the wholesale price for one month supply of Sovaldi is still $28,000. That's too much when you're dealing with the health and lives of millions. But we've run around that bush so many times, Gilead grabbed a chair and watches the race with a smile on their face.
I live in Florida and we're having a hard time treating all the Medicaid demands alone. In two weeks last October from the day Sovaldi was released, our state paid out 24.4 million for 333 patients for Sovaldi alone, not including care. That works out roughly to the wholesale price provided to retail pharmacies. That's not a very impressive discount, just saying. That doesn't include the money the taxpayer paid after the Fed (ACA) threw in another $4 million. I understand we are now limiting treatment to the sickest, because the money isn't available to treat everyone. It just keeps going up. There are in the neighborhood of 3-4 million affected by this disease in the states alone. If 333 people cost the taxpayer over $30 million dollars in one state alone, the cost to treat 4 million gives me chills. All I'm saying is Gilead can do a lot better by the people in this country and many others. Why give manufacturing carte blanche to India to develop generics for pennies on the dollar and smile as they stiff the rest of us? It's not right, simple as that. So again, I'm glad they have decided to start working with various governments around the world, but they've got to do better.
Tig
Rubye said
Feb 15, 2015
Maybe Germany is willing to treat everyone with Hep C.
I know Gilead has offered different state's Medicaid programs steep discounts and here in Oregon they offered a discount of around 50%, or more, but it was with the requirement that Oregon treat everyone. Since Oregon did not want to treat everyone on Medicaid they declined the deal. My understanding is that Florida got a really great deal from Gilead because they were willing to treat everyone. So it seems to be that the cost to the individual states here in the U.S. can be just as good as it is in other countries. And who knows what kind of deals the insurance companies have. I'm quite sure they are not paying $90,000.
Tig said
Feb 14, 2015
That's great! What I can't understand is why we're seeing these selective discounts and price reductions around the world, but the North American prices stay at $90+ K? I don't even want to start on the subject of generic authorizations in India and who knows where else. But as you said, it's a start and I hope to see competition and fair pricing impact Gileads future pricing decisions. Thanks Malcolm, this is good news and a real plus for those affected with this disease in Germany. I hope Gilead shares the same opportunity to all corners of the planet.
Tig
mallani said
Feb 14, 2015
Now we're talking!
Gilead will supply Germany at almost half price. I hope Australia can get a similar bargain.
I guess Gilead had to start high but we're starting to see the benefits of competition.
Hi Rubye,
I'm sure many Ins. Co's have made their own deals with Gilead, but the retail price on 12 weeks of Harvoni still stands at $94,500. I'm not aware of their prices to state governments. That's an outrage and why they're under the eye of regulators and Congress. I spoke with a pharmacy recently and was told that the wholesale price for one month supply of Sovaldi is still $28,000. That's too much when you're dealing with the health and lives of millions. But we've run around that bush so many times, Gilead grabbed a chair and watches the race with a smile on their face.
I live in Florida and we're having a hard time treating all the Medicaid demands alone. In two weeks last October from the day Sovaldi was released, our state paid out 24.4 million for 333 patients for Sovaldi alone, not including care. That works out roughly to the wholesale price provided to retail pharmacies. That's not a very impressive discount, just saying. That doesn't include the money the taxpayer paid after the Fed (ACA) threw in another $4 million. I understand we are now limiting treatment to the sickest, because the money isn't available to treat everyone. It just keeps going up. There are in the neighborhood of 3-4 million affected by this disease in the states alone. If 333 people cost the taxpayer over $30 million dollars in one state alone, the cost to treat 4 million gives me chills. All I'm saying is Gilead can do a lot better by the people in this country and many others. Why give manufacturing carte blanche to India to develop generics for pennies on the dollar and smile as they stiff the rest of us? It's not right, simple as that. So again, I'm glad they have decided to start working with various governments around the world, but they've got to do better.
Tig
Maybe Germany is willing to treat everyone with Hep C.
I know Gilead has offered different state's Medicaid programs steep discounts and here in Oregon they offered a discount of around 50%, or more, but it was with the requirement that Oregon treat everyone. Since Oregon did not want to treat everyone on Medicaid they declined the deal. My understanding is that Florida got a really great deal from Gilead because they were willing to treat everyone. So it seems to be that the cost to the individual states here in the U.S. can be just as good as it is in other countries. And who knows what kind of deals the insurance companies have. I'm quite sure they are not paying $90,000.
That's great! What I can't understand is why we're seeing these selective discounts and price reductions around the world, but the North American prices stay at $90+ K? I don't even want to start on the subject of generic authorizations in India and who knows where else. But as you said, it's a start and I hope to see competition and fair pricing impact Gileads future pricing decisions. Thanks Malcolm, this is good news and a real plus for those affected with this disease in Germany. I hope Gilead shares the same opportunity to all corners of the planet.
Tig
Now we're talking!
Gilead will supply Germany at almost half price. I hope Australia can get a similar bargain.
I guess Gilead had to start high but we're starting to see the benefits of competition.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/12/us-gilead-sciences-hepatitis-germany-idUSKBN0LG1RJ20150212