Hepatitis C drug: From Rs 1.8 crore to Rs 1.2 Lakh

For around 2 crore Indians affected with Hepatitis C, there's finally a 'vial' of hope. Till a few weeks ago, Sofosbuvir – the only cure – was out of bounds for many. A six-month treatment would mean Rs 1.8 crore.

It's now Rs 1.2 lakh, with US-based Gilead Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of the drug, allowing generic Indian companies to make it available here.

Ask 63-year-old Vanita Walinjkar what it means. The Nalasopara-based mother of two was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in 2007. But she could not afford the treatment. She has been suffering from severe liver disease since then and a transplant was the only option before her.

Till date, she has spent over Rs 15 lakh to treat her chronic liver disease.

Life changed for her last week. She has now procured a generic version of Sofosbuvir manufactured by Indian company Zydus-Cadila. Natco Pharma and Zydus-Cadila released the drug earlier this month in the country.

"Last Saturday, we received a call from LH Hiranandani Hospital. My father rushed to buy the drug. Our doctor explained us that my mother will undergo a change in regimen for drug administration. Six months ago, we had refused the treatment as we could not afford it," said Kailesh Walinjkar, Vanita's son.

What is Hepatitis C?

It is a viral condition spread through blood, needles, tattoo, surgery or intravenous drip. An estimated 1.2-1.8 crore persons in India are infected with Hepatitis C. About 80% patients develop chronic Hepatitis C with damaged liver, tiredness and weakness. Twenty per cent will develop fatal liver cirrhosis over a few years and 5% will suffer from liver cancer, say doctors.

Why is it so rampant in India?

India did not have proper facilities to screen blood for Hepatitis C virus till 1996. Many people had received contaminated blood before 1996. "It takes close to two months between the blood test and the manifestation of the virus in the sample. But many labs and hospitals transfuse blood before these two months. A nucleic acid test, which reduces the window period to one week, should be introduced in all labs," said Vinay Shetty, Vice President, Think Foundation.

Isn't there any other treatment?

Till a week back, patients were being administered Interferon drug injections weekly, with a daily dose of Ribavirin tablets, doctors said. "In case of Vanita and many others, its efficacy was not optimum. Only 40-60% patients were responding. If the virus does not respond to the medicine, the patient's liver condition worsens and a transplant is the only way out," said Dr Geeta Billa, consultant liver specialist, LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai.

Will the generic version work equally?

"We are hopeful that the new drug will help and patients will have a better response rate to the drug. Hopefully, it will prevent many from reaching a chronic last-stage liver disease condition, where a transplant will be the only solution," said Dr Billa. Dr Abha Nagral, consultant liver physician at Jaslok hospital, said: "Close to 200 patients, registered with me, have been waiting for years for a cheaper drug. We believe that the drug will be successful."

Will other drugs follow suit?

Dr Billa said that another drug, Ledipasvir, also manufactured by Gilead, is yet to hit the Indian market. Another Indian company, Strides Arcolab, is also set to introduce its version soon." We expect Ledipasvir to enter the market later this year, which, we hope, will offer respite to lakhs of patients," said Dr Billa.

Sofosbuvir was approved by the US-FDA in 2013, which, doctors say, cure up to 80% Hepatitis C patients. Dr Nagral said that cheaper versions of the direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) like Sobosfuvir are available now after months of petitioning the central government.