title: [Is more expensive always better?].
abstract: If left untreated, hepatitis C infection can lead to hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Until recently, the standard-of-care was peginterferon with ribavirin. Sofosbuvir is a novel direct antiviral acting agent that targets hepatitis C. Administration of sofosbuvir leads to high cure rates, but is very expensive. Here we question the concept of the value-based pricing of sofosbuvir, and argue that the spiralling price of new drugs leads to an unsustainable healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: Radboudumc, afd. Maag-, Darm- en Leverziekten, Nijmegen.
authors.forename: Joost P H
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Drenth
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069474:Sofosbuvir; D014542:Uridine Monophosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D014542:Uridine Monophosphate; D000069474:Sofosbuvir