Replies to post #188887 on Biotech Values

[dewophile]

gotcha
all in all this is likely a modest negative for harvoni/sovaldi but not so clearly a plus for v-pak, although the general tarnish this has on the GILD brand could have some mild corollary benefit for v-pak use. i also think if a pt has to take one or the other a "do not use with amiodarone" label from the FDA is worse than what is in the v-pak label for concomitant use of the drug, although most likely docs will avoid hep c tx altogether in amiodarone users, as you suggest

[dewophile]

Not clear to me that Viekera will play well with amiodarone either because of the CYP3A4 issue

one last note - this is due to the ritonavir component, and this shouldn't affect the abbv second generation DAA combo, whereas all of GILD's second gen combos use sovaldi. This could also be a niche where MRK can win some market share if/when approved

[jq1234]

Harvoni/Sovaldi vs V-Pak with Amiodarone:

The difference is interaction mechanism is clear with V-Pak, but it isn't with Harvoni/Sovaldi that caused serious symptomatic bradycardia. With V-Pak, you can try low dose amiodarone well before starting V-Pak, then adjust dose if needed, so there is a way forward.