Sort of OT re $GILD and $ABBV:
Had colonoscopy and endoscopy last week. Found a virus that causes gastritis that has to be treated.
Doctor called yesterday with treatment of same. He is practicing both Gastroenterology and Hepatology. After the discussion about my health, I brought up Hep C treatments.
We had a long conversation. He said "patients are coming out the woodwork." People that he had treated unsuccessfully many years ago are coming in. He is looking forward to competition in the hope that prices will come down. He said that GILD had done the right thing by agreeing to pick up the co-pays for almost everyone. He has written one 8 week Harvoni Rx. The cure of the patients is one of the most rewarding things that he has ever had. He is treating everyone who comes in, not just the ones who are sickest, though it has been more difficult in some situations to get approvals. So far, he has gotten approvals on everything. He was surprised that the EU pricing was in the $40-60K level - he thought it would have be lower. He knew that ABBV was up for approval soon. He did not think that there was any warehousing before ABBV approval, but again said that he hoped that prices would come down so that it would not be as hard to get approvals. His department (in Cleveland Clinic) has two full time people working on approvals.
Just thought the whole conversation was interesting. He clearly was surprised that I knew so much about the various players - JNJ, MRK, BMY, etc. He had attended the recent conference.
