Democratic Lawmakers Renew Calls For Compulsory Licensing Of Hep C Drugs

Nearly 20 Democratic lawmakers wrote to HHS Secretary Alex Azar last week urging the department to consider issuing compulsory licenses for high-priced hepatitis C treatments, naming Gilead’s Harvoni and AbbVie’s Mavyret as two prime targets. The lawmakers argue that current rationing of the treatments to only those with advanced forms of the disease is harming public health. “At current prices, most reimbursement entities, both public and private, limit reimbursement to patients who have the most severe liver damage, while patients...