Zepatier is an inferior drug to Harvoni AND Veirkira Pak/Technivie! Abbvie regimens have had enough clinical experience to know that although ritonivir DDI's and ribavirin is involved - when prescribed ON Label for a compensated cirrhotoc and below - it works great! It CURES patients that it is appropriate for. No NS5a resistant testing needed. Docs know that because we've been given free drug a lot!!!! They are comfortable with our regimen and have learned to trust it! Merck is not a threat!!! They can face the hemodialysis patients all day everyday ... But that's it! We own the 1b patient type compensated cirrhotic and non cirrhotic. Their data has far fewer patients enrolled than we do. If your an Abbvie employee be proud and self assured that we are STILL second position to Gilead. Merck's drug doesn't cut it ... Period. Just because they are cheaper list price doesn't mean they will beat us net price and who wants to deal with an NS5A resistant test prior to treatment that cost $700-$2000 per pop. Is Merck going to give a free voucher NS5A resistant testing.... Maybe maybe not.... Still pain in the ass! Merck has nothing on Abbvie and I relish the fact that all the Gilead MSL's will do the bad mouthing for us. Inferior drug period!
BANG