Technology and Market Landscape
Author: Mike Isbell, Renée Ridzon, and Karin Timmermans
Organization: UNITAID
Year: February 2015
Document Type: Report
Abstract/Summary: In October 2013, UNITAID published its first scoping paper on hepatitis C. At the time, two direct-acting antiviral medicines were on the market. While these improved the therapeutic options available, the improvement was limited by the fact that they still needed to be used with pegylated interferon and ribavirin – medicines that can cause considerable side effects.
Much has changed since the first UNITAID scoping paper was published 16 months ago. The role of the two direct-acting antivirals that were first to market has significantly diminished, and both are being discontinued in the USA. Nine new direct-acting antivirals have been launched, though to date most are only available in a limited number of countries. This report takes stock of this rapidly changing market, where new products have the potential to become “blockbusters” almost overnight – but also risk becoming quickly outdated due to superior products entering the market.
Interferon- and ribavirin-free combinations are now on the market, at least for treatment of some geno-types of the hepatitis C virus. And while no short, simple pan-genotypic regimen is available yet for use in all patients (including cirrhotic patients and patients coinfected with HIV), the identification of such a regimen, which would be ideal for use in resource-limited settings, is progressing quickly.
Despite these advances, important challenges remain. The new medicines are very expensive; as a result, access is limited even in high-income countries. Access to these new medicines is virtually non-existent in the rest of the world. Unaffordable prices for new hepatitis C medicines pose a major challenge, but one that can and should be addressed. UNITAID believes it is possible to create a virtuous circle of clearer demand, larger volumes, lower prices and sufficient funding to ensure that these medicines – which cure hepatitis C infection in a relatively short time – will be available to all who need them.
Disease/Therapeutic Area: Hepatitis C
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