In the latest attempt to attack the cost of hepatitis C drugs, an advocacy group is challenging several U.S. patents for the Sovaldi treatment that is sold by Gilead Sciences (GILD).
The group wants to overturn six patents for the drug, which is the oldest of several Gilead hepatitis C medicines, in hopes of spurring lower-cost generic versions to become available sooner than might otherwise be possible. The group contended that U.S. taxpayers can save $10 billion and generics can get to market 14 years faster if it succeeds.
Although sales of Sovaldi, which was launched nearly four years ago, have since been eclipsed by newer Gilead treatments, the patents on the medicine serve as a foundation for the Gilead hepatitis C franchise, which includes Harvoni and Epclusa, explained Tahir Amin, executive director at the Initiative for Medicines, Access, & Knowledge, or I-MAK, the group that filed the challenges.
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