Debate Around the Hepatitis C Drug Must Take Into Account the Benefits to Patients and the Long-Term Savings

This report projected that without new treatments and cures for hepatitis C, "annual medical costs for patients with this disease would more than double from $30 billion to over $85 billion over the next 20 years - an unsustainable trend."  Previous therapies for hepatitis C carried numerous side effects, such as anemia and depression, while only helping about half of patients. Cure rates for Sovaldi, however, were nearly 90% in clinical trials before the drug was approved for sale in December, and there were far fewer complications. The Millman report points out that complications associated with the disease are very serious: "Chronic HCV infection can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Treatments for these conditions include "procedures to drain ascites (the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen), medications, endoscopic intervention, or surgery to manage esophageal varices (dilated veins that can rupture and produce life-threatening hemorrhage), and liver transplantation." The Milliman report notes that "HCV-related liver disease is a leading reason for liver transplants" and forecasts that without better treatment, "the total number of patients with advanced liver disease in 20 years will be more than four times greater than it is today." Moreover, the report states that "the per-patient cost of caring for people with chronic HCV infection will increase 3.5 times in 20 years." The report concludes: "As more HCV infected people progre...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs