BERLIN, Jan 21 (APM) - Gilead’s Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) faces new competition in Germany following the launch of AbbVie’s interferon-free Viekirax (ombitasvir+paritaprevir+ritonavir) in combination with Exviera (dasabuvir), as the U.S. biotech continues to battle with the German payer over a price for its dominant hepatitis C agent.
AbbVie's oral 12-week treatment became available in Europe’s biggest pharma market on Tuesday in genotype 1 and 4 hepatitis C, following the European Commission’s approval on January 15 (APMMA 41118), the company said in a Tuesday statement.
AbbVie refused to reveal the price of Viekirax+Exviera, a combination also known as Viekira Pak, ahead of formal publication next month.
The U.S. pharma said Viekirax+Exviera are the first products available in Germany as a combination treatment of three direct-acting antivirals and Phase III studies showed cure rates of 97% in hepatitis C genotype 1.
Although Gilead gained an EU license for its Harvoni (ledipasvir+sofosbuvir) in November, AbbVie's launch is potentially bad news for Gilead which has already lost market share in the U.S. after the country’s largest pharmacy management organisation, Express Scripts said it would stop covering the cost of Sovaldi and Harvoni because it had secured a cheaper price for Viekira Pak. (APMMA 40928)
Across Europe, companies have sought to counter Sovaldi's clinical credentials and market lead with either price cuts or more innovative approaches to get their drugs used.
The German price for Sovaldi is now in the hands of a mediation committee which has until April to find a price, after company and German umbrella payer group GKV Spitzenverband failed to come to an agreement by the deadline of January 17. (APMMA 41152)
/jc/jb/ns
TRY APM Market Access AND GET ACCESS TO THE FULL CONTENT
Interviews with KOLs/senior executives amongst the Regulators, Payers, Health, Medical & Pharmaceutical organisations
Events coverage with a unique focus on Market Access & sustainability of healthcare systems
6 European bureaus : Berlin, Brussels, London, Madrid, Milan & Paris
Ask for a Free trial and get access to the latest stories
Our coverage includes:
- Health Care
- Market Access
- HTA – policies & practices
- European medicine regulations
- Drug safety issues
- Pricing & Reimbursement
- International medicines agencies
If you are a Payer, Pharmaceutical or Consulting professional our premium data will keep you informed on the regulatory, pricing, market access and cost-effectiveness issues that impact all stakeholders.
REQUEST
an initial 10 day temporary access of APM Market Access.
