LETTER: Hepatitis C drug costs out of reach for most

Hepatitis C affects approximately 150 million people worldwide. Approximately 3.5 million Americans have this disease. If left untreated, it can lead to serious medical problems such as liver failure, liver cancer and ultimately death. The earlier the treatment, the greater the chance of recovery.
Gilead Sciences has developed two cures: Sovaldi and Harvoni. Harvoni is advertised quite regularly on TV. Both drugs require a three-month course of treatment. Patients should be greatly relieved that a cure is possible; however, the challenge is the incredible price.
In this country Sovaldi costs approximately $1,000 per pill or approximately $90,000 over the course of treatment. As if that is not bad enough, Harvoni is more costly.
I recently checked with two large local drug stores. One priced Harvoni at $37,000 per month ($111,000 over three months) and the other, approximately, $50,000 per month ($150,000 over the course of treatment).
Apparently, dozens of state Medicaid plans limit access to Sovaldi for obvious reasons.
India has 12 million people suffering with Hep C. The generic version of Gilead’s pill in India can be had for as little as $4 per pill vs. $1,000 per pill for the name-brand drug in the U.S. There is something terribly wrong with that. Insurance companies are not rushing to approve covering either drug for obvious reasons.
I realize research and development are costly; however, no drug company should be permitted to price a life-saving drug so high that many will suffer, and possibly die, because they cannot afford the cure.