New Year, New Cure for Millions Affected by Hepatitis C
Breakthrough new Hepatitis C drugs and Apothecary by Design’s specialty pharmacy
approach bring a cure closer than ever before
PORTLAND – January 8, 2014: In response to the anticipated release of breakthrough new
Hepatitis C drug therapies, local Portland pharmacy Apothecary by Design has expanded
their Hepatitis C patient management program and invested in specialty staff training and
therapy management software to help increase adherence and lower costs.
The launch of the new Hepatitis C (HCV) drugs will bring higher cure rates but also high
costs and therefore the new treatments require significant pharmacy support. To increase
success in Maine, Apothecary by Design structured a specialty pharmacy program that
offers in-depth HCV disease state expertise and a multidisciplinary team approach that has
proven beneficial for patient support and therapy success.
“The advancement of more tolerable, successful treatments for HCV patients is tremendous
news,” says Tom Madden, RPh, Founding Principle of Apothecary by Design. “But with
increasing patient numbers and new therapy changes, the need for pharmacy support in
management of HCV patients is more important than ever.”
This specialized pharmacy approach is significant due to the increasing number of HCV
patients: an estimated three to four million Americans are infected with Hepatitis C
annually making it the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the US. Hepatitis C is
the leading cause of liver transplants and kills more Americans annually than AIDS. Because
symptoms and liver damage can take decades to appear, it is often known as the silent
plague. In August of 2012 The CDC recommended testing of all people born between 1945
and 1965 to identify silent infections.
Up to this point, Hepatitis C therapies have been only semi-successful, curing about 70
percent of newly treated patients. These medications are notoriously difficult to endure,
requiring 6-12 months of injections with possible severe side effects.
The December launch of two new Hepatitis C drugs are expected to significantly increase
patient cure rates. The New York Times reports that with the new treatment, “medicine may
be on the brink of an enormous public health achievement: turning the tide against
Hepatitis C.” In a clinical trial with one of the new drugs, Sovaldi (sofosbuvir from Gilead
Services) used in combination with interferon and ribavirin achieved a 90 percent sustained
virologic response in 12 weeks for previously untreated patients with Genotype 1.
Approximately, 70 percent of the patients in the United States have Genotype 1.
While specialty pharmaceuticals such as Sovaldi are setting new scientific boundaries and
helping patients lead longer, healthier lives they come at a significant cost. The average
monthly cost of Sovaldi is approximately $29,000. This stress over the financial burden
associated with an HCV patient’s condition contributes to lack of adherence.
Apothecary by Design understands the great investment in health care and helps
proactively manage a patient on specialty medications to minimize waste, ensure
adherence, and coordinate care with all health care providers. The ABD care management
team also helps investigate coverage for patients across both pharmacy and medical
benefits, identifies patient access programs, and looks for ways to optimize treatment at the
lowest possible cost.
“So far in 2013 we have accessed more than $600,000 in patient assistance dollars for our
patients,” says ABD pharmacist Denali Wright, PharmD. “Many of our patients have
complicated benefit structures and our team works closely with them to navigate that
process.” Wright recently received her Certified Specialty Pharmacist accreditation through
the Specialty Pharmacy Certification Board (SPCB). The certification qualifies Wright as an
expert in handling specialty pharmaceuticals and signifies a nationally-recognized level of
knowledge and proficiency.
“We see this as a major opportunity to eradicate a major public health issue and we are
committed to playing a role in the success of HCV treatments,” Madden says.
Despite the current costs of these medications, the cost of doing nothing may be greater if it
leads to a liver transplant and other severe complications. With an increase in diagnosed
cases, the need for an effective and tolerable treatment regime has never been more
apparent and the potential for a cure has never been so close within our reach.
About Apothecary by Design:
Apothecary by Design is an integrated pharmacy model offering traditional prescriptions
with customized compounded medications, nutraceutical expertise, and cutting edge specialty
pharmacy services. We understand the importance of building a relationship with our patients.
Whether that relationship begins at the hospital bedside with a transplant patient or
immediately after an infectious disease diagnosis or on a patient’s journey to having a baby,
we know that our role is to support, educate and advocate for our patients to help minimize
the stress and complexity associated with their condition. At Apothecary by Design we have an
important role to play in improving how health care is delivered. With access to our clinical
team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with injection teaching, counseling on medication
side effects, or any other questions– there is always a willing, competent, dedicated team
member available to take the call. We look forward to being your pharmacy partner.
For more information, please contact ABD Principal, Catherine Cloudman at 207-899-0663 x2
or ccloudman@apothecarybydesign.com