14 August 2014 - The U.K. agency that evaluates the cost effectiveness of prescription drugs has recommended the government pay for the controversial Sovaldi hepatitis C treatment, although not for all patients.

The move, which still requires a final endorsement, comes as the medicine causes a ruckus in the U.S. The price tag–$84,000 for a 12-week regimen–has insurers and state Medicaid directors worried that the Gilead Sciences medication will become a budget buster and helped to fuel a national debate over the rising cost of prescription drugs.

Generally, the U.K.’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence causes a ruckus of its own by declining to recommend coverage for medications. Consequently, the agency has often butted heads with drug makers and patient groups over its decisions. Last week, for instance, NICE and Roche battled over the cost of a cancer drug, although in a rare development, patient groups sided with the agency.

NICE, in fact, sent mixed signals two months ago about its Sovaldi decision. The agency asked Gilead to supply additional data about certain patient populations and maintained there were “substantial uncertainties in the evidence” that the drug maker provided to win a coverage recommendation. The request for more data prompted speculation that NICE may not recommend coverage.

For more details, go to: http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2014/08/14/uk-recommends-covering-sovaldi-hepatitis-pill/