Best Practices in Launching a Specialty-Care Blockbuster Franchise in Hepatitis C

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilead Sciences' drug, Sovaldi, held out great promise for Hepatitis C patients and the organization. For Gilead, the product held out the promise of a blockbuster and the beginning of a dominant Hepatitis C franchise, given that Harvoni, the next generation treatment, would be approved a year later. The two drugs rewrote new product launch history for the biopharmaceutical industry.

A recent study by benchmarking firm Best Practices, LLC, looks at how Gilead countered the backlash over Sovaldi's $84,000 cost and how payers adjusted to the product's price tag. Additionally, the study reviews the predatory patent challenges that Gilead faced after it became clear it had a blockbuster, and how Harvoni helped propel the company's Hepatitis C franchise. 

The related report, "Launching a Specialty-Care Blockbuster Franchise in Hepatitis C: How Sovaldi & Harvoni Rewrote New Product Launch History," will provide leaders with a playbook of the strategies and tactics Gilead used to accelerate Sovaldi's path to success.

Key study chapters include:

• Playbook of a Blockbuster: Key Insights from Sovaldi & Harvoni's Launch Year Success
• Birth of a Specialty Medicine Blockbuster: The First Oral Cure for Hepatitis Virus C (HCV)
• The Seeds of Success:  Sovaldi Method of Action Moved Therapy From Treatment to Cure    
• Market Entry History: The Back Story of The New Blockbuster Model
• Pricing New Therapies Offers Multiple Risk Frontiers
• The Global Launch & Pricing Strategy Divided The World Into Key Regions                             
• Payers Crafted Different Strategies Both To Access The New Therapy & Manage Its High Price 
• Where Blockbusters Grow, Patent Challengers Quickly Spring up  

Best Practices, LLC conducted extensive secondary research to review key aspects of Sovaldi's launch, including prevalence of Hepatitis C, Sovaldi's method of action, key aspects of its product launch, results of launch, payers' reaction to pricing, Gilead's response to pricing criticism, patent challenges and the entrance of Harvoni.

To access the full report, or to download a complimentary summary containing insights found in this report, click on the following link: http://www.best-in-class.com/rr1365.htm

For more information on other recent primary research studies, contact us at 919.403.0251. For related research, visit our Best Practices, LLC website at http://www.best-in-class.com/.

ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, LLC
Best Practices, LLC is a leading benchmarking, consulting and advisory services firm serving biopharmaceutical and medical device companies worldwide. Best Practices, LLC's clients include all the top 10 and 48 of the top 50 global healthcare companies. The firm conducts primary research and consulting using its comprehensive proprietary benchmarking tools and analysis. The operational insights, findings and analysis form the basis for our Benchmarking Reports, databases and advisory services to support executives in commercial and R&D operations. Best Practices, LLC believes in the profound principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class companies.

SOURCE Best Practices, LLC

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