Comparison of original drugs and generic drugs: price adjustment of Jisandai/Bingtonsha

Epclusa is an anti-hepatitis C virus drug developed by Gilead and is widely used to treat chronic hepatitis caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). As a combination drug, G3 is composed of Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir, which can effectively inhibit the replication of hepatitis C virus. As the treatment of hepatitis C gradually moves towards the era of oral drugs, Jisandai has become one of the main choices for patients to treat hepatitis C.

However, the price of Jisandai has always been a focus of concern for patients, especially for patients with heavy financial burdens. As an original research drug, Jisandai is launched in many countries around the world, and its prices vary according to regions and sales channels. Taking the Chinese market as an example, the specifications of Jisandai are usually 400mg+100mg×28 tablets, and the price of each box is about more than 3,000 yuan. Due to its remarkable efficacy and being included in China's medical insurance catalog, many patients can reimburse a certain percentage of the cost through medical insurance, reducing the financial burden on patients. However, even so, the price of more than 3,000 yuan is still a big burden for some patients with poor financial conditions.

Compared with the original drugs, Jisandai’s generic drugs have obvious advantages in price. Pharmaceutical companies in countries such as India and Bangladesh have produced generic drugs of Genisan. These generic drugs have almost the same ingredients and efficacy as the original drugs, but the prices are significantly lower. For example, the specifications of the third generation generic drug of Jilin in India and Bangladesh are 400mg+100mg×28 tablets, and the price per box is about 800 yuan. This price difference makes this drug affordable for more patients, especially in countries and regions without medical insurance coverage, making generic drugs the first choice for many hepatitis C patients.

Reference: https://www.epclusa.com/