Hepatitis

Treating Hep C: Effective but Expensive

Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved another in a series of medicines that have dramatically changed the outlook for those diagnosed with hepatitis C. Epclusa is a single pill taken once a day for 12 weeks. It is the first drug to clear all six strains of the virus in up to…

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Who Is Getting Hep C Treatment?

The Hepatitis C virus causes progressive liver damage and is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S., yet its gravity is frequently disregarded. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more people die from Hepatitis C than from 60 other infectious diseases combined. Despite major advances in Hepatitis C treatment,…

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The Drug Costs $95K. Its Maker 'Dodged' $10B in Taxes

A pharmaceutical company that has in recent years made billions of dollars on hepatitis C treatments—the three the FDA has approved range from $75,000 to $94,500—has been named a “price gouger” and “tax dodger” in a new report. Gilead Sciences, the sixth richest drugmaker in the world, “is making a fortune selling essential drugs to…

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FDA approves first pill to treat all forms of hepatitis C

Federal health officials on Tuesday approved the first pill to treat all major forms of hepatitis C, the latest in a series of drug approvals that have reshaped treatment of the liver-destroying virus. The Food and Drug Administration approved the combination pill, Epclusa, from Gilead Sciences, for patients with and without liver damage. The new…

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Insurers Probed on Hepatitis C Drug Coverage

Insurers Probed on Hepatitis C Drug Coverage New York state’s attorney general investigates alleged restrictions on expensive but effective drugs ENLARGE Harvoni, which is manufactured by Gilead Sciences, cures hepatitis C in from 90% to 99% of cases. Photo: Max Whittaker/Prime for The Wall Street Journal Corinne Ramey March 2, 2016 7:31 p.m. ET 2…

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Zepatier Hepatitis C Drug From Merck Is Approved

By REUTERSJAN. 29, 2016 United States regulators on Thursday approved a new once-daily pill for the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus made by Merck, which said it would sell the drug at a lower list price than its competitors. The list price for Zepatier will be $54,600 for a 12-week regimen, which Merck said it expected…

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Marijuana After Clearing Hepatitis C

Is it safe to use marijuana after successfully clearing the Hepatitis C virus? Thanks to the new antiviral medications now available, more people than ever have been lucky enough to clear their body of the Hepatitis C virus. Although such an achievement demands celebration, many are unsure what being cured of Hepatitis C means to…

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Can Hep C Be Cured in Just Six Weeks?

Can Hep C Be Cured in Just Six Weeks? Just as the makers of the next generation of Hepatitis C drugs aim for greater safety and effectiveness, they are also trying to eliminate the virus in a shorter period of time.   Only five years ago, the medications prescribed to treat Hepatitis C were analogous…

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If I'm Cured of Hepatitis C, When Is It Safe to Drink Again?

If I’m Cured of Hepatitis C, When Is It Safe to Drink Again? Written by David Heitz | Published on May 14, 2015 Doctors say the answer lies in whether a patient is honest about their alcohol use and how much damage the liver sustained before treatment. For some people, a glass of wine with…

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The Most Important Meal of the Day

** Note: The source of this article is a Hep C publication and of course it talks about hep c. For those without hep c substitute liver disease as the meaning is the same ** By Nicole Cutler L.Ac. May 6, 2015 Living with chronic Hepatitis C leaves some with a disadvantaged liver, requiring extra…

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