Will Gilead reclaim its throne in the HCV drug market?

Will make the winning bid with its competitive price

Epclusa to be released with reimbursement starting next month, targets market leader Abbvie’s ‘Mavyret’

Can be used in all hep C genotypes like Mavyret... treatment period is longer but the price cheaper

Fierce competition is being expected in the hepatitis C (HCV) treatment market with the launch of Gilead’s new treatment which is priced at a lower level than the current market leader.

 

With the new product, Gilead is aspiring to reclaim the former glory that it had enjoyed dominating the market with Sovaldi.

 

According to industry sources on the 21st, Gilead Science Korea’s HCV treatment ‘Epclusa Tab (velpatasvir+sofosbuvir) and ‘Vosevi Tab (velpatasvir+sofosbuvir+voxilarprevir)’ will receive health insurance reimbursement from the 1st of next month.

 

The insurance price ceiling for Epclusa and Vosevi was set at KRW 117,030 and KRW 120,836, respectively.

 

The current market leader in the HCV treatment market is Abbvie Korea’s Mavyret (glecaprevir+pibrentasvir).

 

Mavyret can be used in all Chronic HCV patients, in all HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

 

Also, its treatment period is shorter than its competitors, with an 8-week regimen.

 

On the other hand, Gilead’s Harvoni tab cannot be used in patients with genotype 3, and Sovaldi is unable for use in patients with genotype 5 or 6.

 

Also, their treatment period is 12 weeks, which is 4 weeks longer than Mavyret.

 

Such limitations have brought marked differences in sales of the respective drugs.

 

Based on IQVIA data, Mavyret recorded KRW 46.6 billion, and Harvoni KRW 11.7 billion, Sovaldi KRW 0.2 billion in sales last year.

 

Comparison of major hepatitis C treatments

Faced with the need to replace Mavyret, Gilead released Epclusa and Vosevi.

 

Both may be used in all HCV genotypes 1-6.

 

However, to use Vosevi, the patient needs to have prior HCV treatment experience.

 

Although both of the treatments have a longer treatment period than Mavryet, with a 12-week treatment regimen, it can be overcome by the price difference.

 

If we calculate the treatment using the price ceiling set this time, Epclusa will cost KRW 9,835,000 and Vosevi KRW 10,152,224 won in patients without cirrhosis.

 

This is KRW10,922,352 cheaper than Mavyret, and also cheaper than the previous Gilead products.

 

Havoni costs KRW1,092,924 and Sovaldi KRW 10,599,624.

 

The low price of Vosevi and Epclusa has been somewhat expected as the company accepted the weighted average price of alternative drugs proposed by HIRA in July.

 

As their price is set at a lower level than their alternatives, the two drugs passed the HIRA DREC review in July and were listed for reimbursement in only 4 months.

 

This is interpreted as Gilead’s determination to overcome AbbVie and restore the former glory it had with Sovaldi, the first oral drug to cure hepatitis C that had switched the paradigm.

 

Given that Gilead and AbbVie's products can treat all genotypes, the competition in HCV is expected to narrow into a battle between Mavyret, which has a short treatment period, or the cheaper option, Epclusa.