Gilead Limits Enrollment in its Hep C Patient Program to Pressure Insurers

In a bid to push back against payers, Gilead Sciences GILD -0.71% is limiting enrollment to its patient assistance program for hepatitis C drugs, which helps people obtain the Sovaldi and Harvoni treatments when they lack sufficient insurance coverage or the financial wherewithal to get the medicines otherwise.

The drug maker is taking this step after finding that some payers, despite receiving discounts in recent months, have continued to restrict patient access to its hepatitis C medicines. As a result, Gilead has been picking up the cost of the medicines for more people it would like seeking patient assistance, according to a July 1 letter sent to patient groups and community health providers, among others.

A Gilead spokeswoman declined to say how many people are enrolled in its Support Path assistance program, how many may be affected by the change or provide actions taken by specific payers.

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Canada: BC Transit Campaign to Raise Awareness about HCV Testing

In honor of World Hepatitis Day (July 28th), HepCBC Hepatitis C Education and Prevention Society has launched a month long campaign in seven cities across British Columbia, including Vancouver, Victoria, Richmond, Surrey, Kelowna, Nanaimo, and Prince George.

The goal of this campaign is to increase awareness about hepatitis C testing in British Columbia.

An estimated 80,000 people in British Columbia are infected with hepatitis C. Of those infected, 75 per cent are baby boomers (people born between 1945 and 1975). In addition, an estimated 44 per cent of those infected do not know they are infected.

- See more at: http://smartsexresource.com/health-providers/blog/201507/bc-transit-campaign-to-raise-awareness-about-hcv-testing#sthash.44Y7fG9w.dpuf

Hepatitis C rates in Oregon soar above national average

"About 80 percent of the people who die from hepatitis C in Oregon are between 45 to 64 years old."

When it comes to viral infections in Oregon, hepatitis C is far deadlier than AIDS.

A report out this week shows that infections from hepatitis C remained fairly stable in Oregon between 2009 and 2013 but deaths from the virus climbed steadily over that period. They're now six times higher than deaths from AIDS.

"There are 5,000 people living with HIV in our state," said Dr. Ann Thomas, a public health physician. "There are almost 10 times as many people living with hepatitis C."

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FDA Safety Alert: NSAIDS

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a communication strengthening an existing warning label that non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke.  This includes prescribed and over-the-counter non-aspirin NSAID medications.

Many people with hepatitis C suffer from extrahepatic conditions of hepatitis C and may take NSAIDs or medications that contain NSAIDs.   Read this FDA communication FDA carefully. Talk with your medical provider about what you should take, how often and what are the alternatives that are safe to take.

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm451800.htm

New web site for Cure Hepatitis C is now live

The new web site for Cure Hepatitis C is now live!  Check it out at http://hepatitis-c.curetoday.com/

Also: Check out the Spring 2015 Issue, featuring Alan Franciscus.

Spring 2015

Hepatitis C outbreak Dr. Dipak Desai sentenced to federal prison for fraud

After years of silence, Dr. Dipak Desai spoke publicly Thursday about the 2007 hepatitis C outbreak at his once-busy endoscopy center.

“I’m sorry sir, sorry,” Desai said in an emotional voice, as Senior U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno was about to sentence him to 71 months in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme tied to the deadly outbreak.

Before that, in a Las Vegas courtroom linked by video conference, Assistant U.S. Attorney Crane Pomerantz spoke of his disdain for the man at the center of the outbreak.

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2 new hepatitis C drugs to be available in November in Egypt

CAIRO: Minister of Health Adel al-Adawy announced that two new hepatitis C drugs, Harvoni and Viekira, are to be available at the hepatitis treatment centers by next November, youm7 reported Wednesday.

There are 2.3 million hepatitis C patients in Egypt, while 996,642 patients applied on the website of the National Committee for the Control of Viral Hepatitis to be treated by Sovaldi until last June, according to Adawy.

He added that 85,536 patients were provided with the treatment until the end of June.

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