How hepatitis C treatment is a glimpse of health care’s future

Hepatitis C is one of the most common chronic infectious illnesses in the U.S. today and affects nearly 3.2 million Americans. Complications of hepatitis C infection include liver cancer as well as cirrhosis.  Many patients with chronic hepatitis ultimately develop liver failure and will die without liver transplantation.  In the last year,  a new drug class has entered the market and can produce cure rates in excess of 90 percent. These drugs — Sovaldi and Harvoni — are incredibly expensive, and some treatment courses cost more than $1000 a day.  Typical treatment courses to achieve cure require 12 weeks of continuous treatment.  Drug maker Gilead reported that sales of Sovaldi exceeded 2.2 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2015. According to a report released by Express Scripts in 2014, spending on hepatitis C therapy increased by 700 percent between 2013 and 2014.  In fact, only 1 percent of drugs accounted for 32 percent of spending over the same time period — much of this is due to the emergence of the new treatments for hepatitis. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Meds GI Medications Source Type: blogs