NHS England has agreed to invest a whopping £190 million this year in new treatments for hepatitis C, so that patients with liver cirrhosis can finally get NHS access to AbbVie’s new interferon-free antiviral regimen as well as Gilead’s Sovaldi and Harvoni, and thus hope for a cure.

Viekirax (ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir) and Exviera (dasabuvir) have actually been available in the UK since January 2015. But, because they are yet to receive funding approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, patients have not been getting access on the NHS, despite being at greatest risk of serious harm from a delay in treatment. 

NICE backed the use of Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), as part of combination therapy, to treat genotypes 1-6 chronic hepatitis C in February, but patients were also left waiting for access to this drug as NHS England requested extra time to allow it to ensure that necessary funding arrangements are in place for the treatment. Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) was recommended for NHS use in March.

It is estimated that NHS England’s interim commissioning policy should help around 3,500 HCV patients with cirrhosis receive treatment with Viekirax, Exviera and Sovaldi by the end of the year, offering a potential cure and prevention of further liver damage. 

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/15-06-10/NHS_England_stumps_up_£190m_for_hep_C_therapy.aspx