Louisiana picks Gilead subsidiary for ‘Netflix’ style HCV subscription plan

The Louisiana Department of Health selected Asegua Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Gilead Sciences, as their pharmaceutical partner in a “subscription style” payment plan designed to provide state residents with access to hepatitis C treatment, according to a press release from the department.

The State will pay a fee to the manufacturer for unrestricted access to its direct-acting antiviral Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for 5 years. Access will be available for patients enrolled in Medicaid and incarcerated patients.

“The next step is to complete the contract between Asegua and our agency,” Rebekah E. Gee, MD, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, said in the release. “We were extremely pleased that three manufacturers offered proposals, with the plan submitted by Asegua offering us a clear path forward to offer a hepatitis C cure to our most vulnerable patients.”

According to the press release, the department expects to have a contract in place by June 1 and to launch the subscription model on July 1. The State’s elimination goal is to treat more than 10,000 Medicaid-enrolled and incarcerated individuals by the end of 2020.

“We are excited that Asegua has been selected to partner with the Department of Health and look forward to working on an agreement for this groundbreaking subscription model to increase access to a cure for people living with hepatitis C in Louisiana,” Gregg Alton, a representative for Asegua, stated in the release. “This is an important step forward on the path to eliminating the virus in Louisiana.”

Click here to read an interview with the department’s chief of staff, Pete Croughan, MD, regarding the plan.

Reference: www.ldh.la.gov