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Gilead offers Egypt new hepatitis C drug at 99 percent discount
Reuters ^ | 3/21/2014 | Maggie Fick and Ben Hirschler

Posted on 03/24/2014 10:03:55 AM PDT by RoosterRedux

Gilead Sciences, facing mounting criticism over the high price of its new hepatitis C pill Sovaldi, has offered to supply the medicine to Egypt at a 99 percent discount to the U.S. price.

While the drug will still cost $900 for a 12-week course of treatment, that is a fraction of the $84,000 charged for a course of treatment in the United States.

The high price tag in America prompted questions from U.S. lawmakers on Friday, after U.S. health insurers said they were seeking help from state health officials to foot the bill.

Gilead said it was "pleased to have finalized an agreement" for the introduction of Sovaldi in Egypt, which has the highest prevalence rate of hepatitis C in the world.

"We believe Sovaldi could have a major impact on public health in Egypt by significantly increasing the number of people who can be cured of hepatitis C," Gregg Alton, head of corporate and medical affairs at Gilead, said in an emailed statement.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Egypt; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: egypt; gileadsciences; hepatitisc; hepatitiscpill; israel; sovaldi

1 posted on 03/24/2014 10:03:55 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

We are subsidizing the medicines of the world. I get hosed everytime I go the pharmacy or get a shot.


2 posted on 03/24/2014 10:13:46 AM PDT by BipolarBob
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To: RoosterRedux
>>>Gilead said it was "pleased to have finalized an agreement" for the introduction of Sovaldi in Egypt, which has the highest prevalence rate of hepatitis C in the world. Controlled laboratory experiment in a highly infected area, controlled by muslims?
3 posted on 03/24/2014 10:13:53 AM PDT by SIRTRIS
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To: RoosterRedux

i would guess obama/jarrett had someting to do with this. for their muslim brotherhood accomplices.


4 posted on 03/24/2014 10:15:46 AM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: SIRTRIS
There's this about why hepatitis C is so prevalent in Egypt...
In addition to blood transfusions prior to 1994, the major risk factor associated with HCV infection is a history of antischistosomal injection treatment before 1986. Schistosomiasis used to be a common parasitic disease in Egypt acquired through swimming or wading in contaminated irrigation channels or standing water. Thus, farmers and rural populations were at greatest risk, and this is supported by the higher prevalence rate of HCV in the Nile delta and rural areas. Schistosomiasis can lead to urinary tract or liver damage over many years. Prior to 1986 the mainstay of treatment was intravenous tartar emetic. Widespread treatment campaigns were carried out in the countryside of Egypt in the 60’s-70’s and early 80’s. At the time of availability of only glass syringes, needles were routinely inadequately sterilized by boiling due to time restraints and limited resources.

Source


5 posted on 03/24/2014 10:19:32 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: All

Egypt has over 6 million people with hepatitis C compared with 3+ mil in the U.S.


6 posted on 03/24/2014 10:24:26 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: RoosterRedux
Yup, Muslims in Egypt are so happy with Islam, they are sharing needles.
7 posted on 03/24/2014 10:29:20 AM PDT by SIRTRIS
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To: SIRTRIS

See post 5 above.


8 posted on 03/24/2014 10:30:45 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: RoosterRedux

A friend of mine is on Sovaldi and pray it works.

Costs are extraordinary but, she only cares about being alive for her two grown sons and grandchildren.


9 posted on 03/24/2014 10:37:03 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: BipolarBob

My best friend died from Hep C complications. They figured she got it while working in a hospital before the ‘needle prick’ rules.
She and her insurance paid for her drugs.


10 posted on 03/24/2014 10:38:43 AM PDT by sheana
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To: Vendome
IIRC, the success rate is over 96%.

Prayers for your friend.

11 posted on 03/24/2014 10:45:53 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing -- Socrates)
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To: RoosterRedux

Thnx she’s been on it two months now and we all pray God will heal her

He has generously enabled the sciences and arts to discover this and delivered kind professionals who also pray their work will cure her.


12 posted on 03/24/2014 10:53:23 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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To: RoosterRedux

I’m sure that the Egyptians will be grateful.


13 posted on 03/24/2014 11:12:19 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (Richard Warman censors free speech.)
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To: BipolarBob

Unfortunately i must recommend a govt. solution to this problem We need a regulation limiting the drug companies from charging more in the US than they do elsewhere in the world. Then they will have to charge a reasonable amount here so they can sell it for the same amount around the globe. Also (off topic) I believe we should only allow exporting of energy products once the price in this country drops to a preset level. Say 60 dollars a barrel for oil. After oil hits that mark then companies can begin exporting. I hate to rely on govt. for these regulations but I doubt we can do it any other way.


14 posted on 03/24/2014 11:16:49 AM PDT by cdpap
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To: cdpap

I agree with your solution but unfortunately the government does not. Wealth re-distribution and all that. See Agenda 21 for more details.


15 posted on 03/24/2014 1:38:14 PM PDT by BipolarBob
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

16 posted on 03/25/2014 5:01:08 AM PDT by SJackson (the Democrats take back control, we donÂ’t make (this) kind of naked power grab, J Biden)
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To: Vendome

It has a 97% success rate in patients. My brother is one of them.


17 posted on 03/25/2014 5:05:47 AM PDT by mware
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To: mware

Good for him.

Hope he is living well and fully.


18 posted on 03/25/2014 7:51:48 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously-you won't live through it anyway-Enjoy Yourself ala Louis Prima)
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