Gilead, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority infectious news
SEPTA filed a suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleging that Gilead charging “grossly excessive prices” for its HCV drug Sovaldi sofosbuvir, which SEPTA claims is preventing some patients from obtaining treatment. SEPTA is seeking class action status on behalf of anyone who has paid for the drug or been unable to obtain it.
At $84,000 for a 12-week course of treatment, SEPTA claims that Gilead is unfairly using a monopoly to price gouge, which it says is a violation of section two of the Sherman Antitrust Act. The transportation authority also claims Gilead’s pricing scheme is discriminatory and violates section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which applies civil rights protections to healthcare exchanges. SEPTA asserts many Medicare and Medicaid patients are denied access even as Gilead has struck deals allowing several generics manufacturers to provide Sovaldi at significantly reduced prices in 91 developing countries, while certain groups in the U.S. have been able to obtain the drug at a discount. ...