US’ Gilead faces competition from a BD company

In a classic David Vs Goliath case, the US-based drugmaker Gilead that has made billions of dollars over its blockbuster range of Hepatitis C drugs is facing an unconventional challenger. Beacon Pharma, a little known Bangladeshi drugmaker, has emerged as the David to the Goliath that Gilead is, reports the Economic Times.

 

Beacon has become the first generic drug company in the world to produce copycat versions of Gilead's newly launched Epclusa (Sofosbuvir + Velpatasvir)— a drug used to treat all types of Hepatitis C infections. One of the revolutionary drugs, Epclusa has a cure rate of 95 per cent, but with a tag of $75,000 it is considered out of reach to even the wealthy.

 

Beacon, going by its past launches of Hep C drugs, will look at pricing the drug 10x less than that of its originator. "Our brand will be known as SOFOSVEL, this will be the first generic launch of this drug," said Monjul Alam, senior vice-president, Beacon Pharma.

 

The combination of Sofosbuvir+ Velpatasvir which was approved by the USFDA in June is considered as a path breaking therapy that can be used by even the harshest genotype of patients suffering from the disease. Gilead, which has faced flak for its pricing of other Hep C drugs, has priced this drug lower than its other products. For over 90 low income countries, Gilead has given voluntary licenses to 12 Indian generic makers who are allowed to sell its drugs, in return of a royalty fee. 

 

"There is bound to be crossborder movement of any goods that costs $1 in one country and $1,000 in other," said Andrew Hill, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics of University of Liverpool.

 

Beacon is hoping to reach out to patients from 45 countries across the world, including India, through its patient support program which allows patients to directly purchase the drug through the manufacturer.