May 30, 2019   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Taiwan National Health Insurance Adminstration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare Approves Epclusa(R) (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for Reimbursement

    --  Epclusa is the first approved single tablet regimen to treat all six
        major genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV)
    --  Epclusa will be made available to chronic hepatitis C patients via the
        National Health Insurance from 1 June 2019

TAIPEI, Taiwan, May 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that Epclusa (sofosbuvir 400mg/velpatasvir 100mg), a once daily pan-genotypic, pan-fibrotic and interferon-free HCV single tablet regimen (STR) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, will be made available via the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme starting on 1 June 2019.

The reimbursement of Epclusa is approved for adult patients with genotypes 1-6 HCV infection,([2] )including as a 12-week treatment for patients with or without compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A) and as a 12-week treatment regimen in combination with ribavirin (RBV) for patients with decompensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or C).

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), there are an estimated 400,000 people living with chronic hepatitis C in Taiwan today.([1]) The MoHW has a goal of eliminating HCV nationally by 2025, five years ahead of the World Health Organization's global target for viral hepatitis elimination.

"The reimbursement of Epclusa is a significant step forward for HCV patients in Taiwan," said Pongo Peng, General Manager of Gilead Taiwan. "Gilead is committed to enabling broad access to HCV cure, in line with Taiwan's national goal to eliminate the disease."

In five international Phase 3 studies, ASTRAL-1, ASTRAL-2, ASTRAL-3, ASTRAL-4 and ASTRAL-5, Epclusa demonstrated high overall cure rates (SVR12, defined as undetectable HCV RNA 12 weeks after completing therapy), ranging from 94-100 percent, across difficult-to-cure patient populations including treatment-experienced patients and those with compensated or decompensated cirrhosis.

The most common adverse reactions (>=10 percent) experienced by patients treated with Epclusa were headache and fatigue; these events occurred at a similar frequency in placebo-treated patients. In patients with decompensated cirrhosis who were treated with Epclusa and RBV, the most common adverse reactions (>=10 percent) were fatigue, anemia, nausea, headache, diarrhea and insomnia.

Epclusa received marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission in 2016. It is also approved for use in 54 other countries and geographies worldwide, including Taiwan.



     References:



     1.      D.S. Chen, Hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan, Hepatol Res, 37 (Suppl. 2) (2007), pp. S101-S105


      2.      National Health Insurance, available online: https://www.nhi.gov.tw/
       Law_Detail.aspx?n=5597495EEC8219A1&sms=36A0BB334ECB4011&s=49BD830E1B3453BE

About Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with global headquarters in Foster City, California.

Epclusa is a registered trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

For more information on Gilead Sciences, please visit the company's website at www.gilead.com, or follow Gilead on Twitter (@GileadSciences).

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SOURCE Gilead Sciences, Inc.