Dive Brief:
- CA-based Gilead Sciences has struck a deal with seven Indian generic drug manufacturers -- including Ranbaxy Labs and Cadila Healthcare -- to create more affordable generic versions of its $1,000-per-pill hepatitis C cure Sovaldi for distribution in developing nations.
- The generic Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) version, as well as one other investigational compound, will be made available in 91 poor nations.
- Gilead spokespeople did not disclose what price generic sofosbuvir will be sold for in the developing markets.
Dive Insight:
Between skirmishes over price caps and safety concerns, Indian generics manufacturers and brand name drug makers don't enjoy the most loving relationship. But it appears that a cure for hepatitis C, an infectious disease that disproportionately afflicts low-income nations, is forcing the two sides into a détente -- at least as far as Sovaldi is concerned.
Gilead spokespeople noted that the generic production deal encompasses nearly 100 countries that contain more than half of the approximately 100-150 million hep C-infected people in the world. "These agreements are essential to advancing the goals of our humanitarian program in these countries," said Gilead Executive VP Gregg H. Alton in a statement.
Sovaldi has been shown to cure about 90% of treated patients.