New treatment for hepatitis C - but affordable?

New treatment for hepatitis C - but affordable?- The burden of hepatitis C public health is enormous. 

This viral infection causes severe liver cirrhosis, terminal liver cancer and liver failure, often require a liver transplant. Over 3 million people in the United States and 150 million worldwide, are infected with hepatitis C, resulting in 700,000 deaths annually.

People who are infected with hepatitis C often have no symptoms. The virus persists in the liver damage liver tissue slowly over a long period of time. For this reason, it is essential that the progression of liver damage before stopping advanced liver disease or liver cancer occurs.

But there is good news: in recent years we have witnessed remarkable progress in the development of new drug treatments for hepatitis C. sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) and combined with ledipasvir sofosbuvir (Harvoni) are two well known examples these new drug treatments.

Another new drug combination, and sofosbuvir velpatasvir, which was recently described in a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is extremely effective against most forms of hepatitis C will become the standard treatment when this combination FDA approved. 

But although the new drugs can cure hepatitis C in many cases they are not accessible to all who need it. New drugs for hepatitis C cost between $ 80,000 and $ 150,000 per year.

People with excellent insurance coverage see low-pocket costs for these drugs. But because of the cost, many insurance companies have set up systems that require high switching costs quotas of people with less robust plans make these medicines out of reach of many people.

In the US, drug hepatitis C are just one example of "specialty drugs." These new drugs for many chronic diseases - such as cancer and arthritis - that were issued to levels that are unaffordable to many people in need.

Up to medicines for hepatitis C, and other drugs are sold at affordable levels, some people without sufficient funds being left behind and can not benefit from modern advances in drug therapy. 

As a society, we must find ways to make these drugs available to all who need it and at the same time compensate pharmaceutical companies for its fresh research and high development. It is a difficult balance, but in a society based on justice and equity, is that we must achieve. For those who have hepatitis C should go without treatment.
By: Gregory Curfman, MD