Post by Logan on Jan 27, 2016 23:39:45 GMT -6
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, opening a new front in the push to boost access to life-saving drugs, has warned the country’s biggest biotech company that it faces possible legal action unless it lowers the price of two popular hepatitis C medicines.
In a letter to Gilead Sciences Inc., made public Wednesday, the attorney general wrote that the high price of the company’s Sovaldi drug, which costs $84,000 for a full 12-week course of treatment, and its Harvoni regimen, at $94,500, “may constitute an unfair trade practice in violation of Massachusetts law” because they are too expensive for many patients.
Healey’s letter said her office was looking into bringing a complaint against the Foster City, Calif., company. While other state attorneys general have sued drug makers seeking larger Medicaid rebates or discounts, her office is believed to be the first to consider using a state consumer protection law to charge a company with overpricing its products.
Gilead spokeswoman Amy Flood said the company has received Healey’s letter and requested a meeting to discuss the issues it raises.
Read more: www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/27/calls-gilead-lower-price-hepatitis-medicines/CNykZWySat0LiYY4cUZfRO/story.html
In a letter to Gilead Sciences Inc., made public Wednesday, the attorney general wrote that the high price of the company’s Sovaldi drug, which costs $84,000 for a full 12-week course of treatment, and its Harvoni regimen, at $94,500, “may constitute an unfair trade practice in violation of Massachusetts law” because they are too expensive for many patients.
Healey’s letter said her office was looking into bringing a complaint against the Foster City, Calif., company. While other state attorneys general have sued drug makers seeking larger Medicaid rebates or discounts, her office is believed to be the first to consider using a state consumer protection law to charge a company with overpricing its products.
Gilead spokeswoman Amy Flood said the company has received Healey’s letter and requested a meeting to discuss the issues it raises.
Read more: www.bostonglobe.com/business/2016/01/27/calls-gilead-lower-price-hepatitis-medicines/CNykZWySat0LiYY4cUZfRO/story.html