title: Rapid reductions in prices for generic sofosbuvir and daclatasvir to treat hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Novel treatments for hepatitis C demonstrate high cure rates, but current high prices can be a barrier to rapid global treatment scale-up. Generic competition can rapidly lower drug prices. Using data on exports of raw materials in 2015, we calculated currently feasible generic prices of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on per-kilogram prices of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) exported from India were extracted from an online database. To the cost of the amount of API needed for a 12-week treatment course, we added cost estimates for formulation (40%), packaging (US$0.35/month), and a mark-up (50%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1 January and 15 October 2015, over 5 tons of sofosbuvir were exported, with prices decreasing by US$702/kg/month, and observed prices of US$2501/kg in early September. Over the same period, 84 kg of daclatasvir were exported, with prices decreasing by US$1664/kg/month to US$1897/kg. Using the price estimation algorithm, we estimated the price of a generic sofosbuvir-daclatasvir combination regimen at US$200 per patient for a 12-week treatment course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The costs of generic production of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are rapidly decreasing. Sofosbuvir-daclatasvir combination treatment could be produced for US$200 per patient per 12-week course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics , Liverpool University , UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine , Imperial College London , UK.
authors.forename: Bryony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine , Imperial College London , UK.
authors.forename: Dzintars
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gotham
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Howard University , Washington DC , USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fortunak
keywords: daclatasvir; generics; hepatitis C; sofosbuvir