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Gilead (GILD) to Launch Generics for Leading HCV Treatments
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Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD - Free Report) announced that it plans to launch authorized generic versions of its leading hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments — Epclusa (sofosbuvir 400mg/velpatasvir 100mg) and Harvoni (ledipasvir 90mg/sofosbuvir 400mg).
The generic versions will be launched through a newly created subsidiary, Asegua Therapeutics LLC at a list price of $24,000 for the most common course of therapy. These will be available from January 2019.
We remind investors that a couple of years ago, Gilead was under the scanner of regulatory bodies for high prices of drugs.
Gilead decided to launch generics as the company believes that the discounts provided by the company do not always translate into lower costs for patients.
Of late, there has been a lot of debate on the high prices of drugs and affordable healthcare for all.
The main focus of the company is lower the list price of Epclusa. Per the company, Epclusa was the first HCV therapy proven to effectively treat all six main Hep C genotypes, with a simple one-pill, once-a-day treatment regimen for the majority of patients. The drug was approved in the United States in 2016.
The launch of the generics might boost the dwindling HCV sales of the company. Harvoni and Sovaldi have been facing competition from AbbVie’s (ABBV - Free Report) Viekira Pak and Viekira XR, and Merck‘s (MRK - Free Report) Zepatier, among others. The franchise suffered a significant plunge in sales due to new competition and fewer patient starts.
Gilead’s stock has gained 8.3% in the year so far against the industry's decline of 2.1%.
Consequently, Gilead is now banking on its HIV franchise and newer avenues, like the CAR-T therapy, to drive growth. However, the company will have to generate substantial revenues from its HIV franchise and Yescarta to offset the HCV sales decline. This will be a challenging task for the company with stiff competition from the likes of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK - Free Report) in the HIV market.
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
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Gilead (GILD) to Launch Generics for Leading HCV Treatments
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD - Free Report) announced that it plans to launch authorized generic versions of its leading hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments — Epclusa (sofosbuvir 400mg/velpatasvir 100mg) and Harvoni (ledipasvir 90mg/sofosbuvir 400mg).
The generic versions will be launched through a newly created subsidiary, Asegua Therapeutics LLC at a list price of $24,000 for the most common course of therapy. These will be available from January 2019.
We remind investors that a couple of years ago, Gilead was under the scanner of regulatory bodies for high prices of drugs.
Gilead decided to launch generics as the company believes that the discounts provided by the company do not always translate into lower costs for patients.
Of late, there has been a lot of debate on the high prices of drugs and affordable healthcare for all.
The main focus of the company is lower the list price of Epclusa. Per the company, Epclusa was the first HCV therapy proven to effectively treat all six main Hep C genotypes, with a simple one-pill, once-a-day treatment regimen for the majority of patients. The drug was approved in the United States in 2016.
The launch of the generics might boost the dwindling HCV sales of the company. Harvoni and Sovaldi have been facing competition from AbbVie’s (ABBV - Free Report) Viekira Pak and Viekira XR, and Merck‘s (MRK - Free Report) Zepatier, among others. The franchise suffered a significant plunge in sales due to new competition and fewer patient starts.
Gilead’s stock has gained 8.3% in the year so far against the industry's decline of 2.1%.
Consequently, Gilead is now banking on its HIV franchise and newer avenues, like the CAR-T therapy, to drive growth. However, the company will have to generate substantial revenues from its HIV franchise and Yescarta to offset the HCV sales decline. This will be a challenging task for the company with stiff competition from the likes of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK - Free Report) in the HIV market.
Zacks Rank
Gilead carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
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