Two more payers pick Harvoni

Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc. each said they selected Harvoni ledipasvir/ sofosbuvir from Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) as the exclusive option for HCV genotype 1 patients and thus will exclude Viekira Pak paritaprevir/ ritonavir/ ombitasvir/ dasabuvir from AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV).

Harvard Pilgrim, a regional payer that covers 1.2 million lives in the commercial market, said the Harvoni decision will apply to patients with liver fibrosis scores of F2-F4, or about 58% of the HCV population. The payer had the same restrictions on HCV drugs prior to the decision to select Harvoni. Nonetheless, CMO Michael Sherman told BioCentury the payer secured a rebate from Gilead in return for giving Harvoni exclusive status and excluding the AbbVie drug. ...