Leading drug manufacturer Beximco Pharma today announces the launch of generic version of the wonder drug Sofosbuvir for treating Hepatitis C under the brand name ‘ Sofovir C’. Sofosbuvir is a revolutionary drug recently launched by Gilead Sciences Inc, under its brand Sovaldi which is considered to be the most effective medication to treat hepatitis C with a cure rate of 90%.
This is available as tablet and devoid of side effects that are seen with existing injectable therapies. The breakthrough drug, however, costs $1,000 (Tk 80000) per tablet in the developed market making it one of the most expensive medicine in the world.
“Beximco Pharma is always committed to bringing new therapies and making them affordable to our patients. We are proud to have played a role in introducing this breakthrough therapy at a price which is currently the lowest in the world,” Beximco Pharma Managing Director Mr Nazmul Hassan said. Available at Tk. 600 per tablet the total cost of therapy would be Taka 50,400.00 only for a 12-week course compared to that of whooping Tk 67 lakh in developed countries.
Globally, it is estimated that 170-185 million people (about 3 percent of the world’s population) are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Untreated chronic hepatitis C increases the risk of cirrhosis of liver, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. In Bangladesh, Hepatitis C emerges as a major health problem with nearly two million patients estimated to be infected with this virus.
Beximco Pharma is a leading manufacturer and exporter of medicines in the country and, as the first Bangladeshi pharma company, it has recently received approval from the US FDA.
