Gilead announces launch of Epclusa, Harvoni generics for HCV

Gilead Sciences announced plans to launch authorized generic versions of Epclusa and Harvoni, according to a company press release.

The generics will launch at a list price of $24,000 for the most common course of hepatitis C therapy in January 2019 through a newly created subsidiary, Aseguea Therapeutics LLC.

“Launching these authorized generics is the best solution available to us today to quickly introduce a lower-priced alternative to our HCV medications without significant disruption to the healthcare system and our business,” John F. Milligan, PhD, president and CEO of Gilead Sciences, said in the lease. “This launch also will hopefully help increase transparency by more closely aligning our medications’ list prices with their cost.”

The authorized generics of Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) and Harvoni (sofosbuvir/ledipasvir) will be priced to reflect the discounts that health insurers and government payers currently receive, according to the release. Additionally, Gilead stated that the generics should provide substantial savings for patients with Medicare or Medicaid.

“Our ultimate goal is to lower the list price of Epclusa ... and Harvoni,” Milligan said in the release. “We are committed to working with all of our partners in the healthcare system to help enable list price reductions of our HCV medications and find better solutions to reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs.”

Reference: www.gilead.com