Large-scale
production of generic entecavir could cut the cost of first-line hepatitis B
virus (HBV) therapy to just US$36 per patient per year, according to a study
published in the online version of the Journal
of Virus Eradication. The authors believe that this cost could facilitate low-cost
global therapy for HBV. The cost of scaled-up generic production of entecavir
was shown to be significantly cheaper than that associated with alternative
therapies, including tenofovir.
“Hepatitis B
infection leads to approximately 686,000 deaths per year. This life-threatening
viral infection could be controlled using entecavir treatment costing
$36/person-year,” comment the investigators. “Entecavir priced at
$36/patient-year could allow expansion of chronic hepatitis B treatment in low-
and middle-income countries, avoiding significant numbers of cases of cirrhosis
and/or primary liver cancer, and massive savings in high-income countries.”
Read more....Labels: access to treatment, generic entecavir