Following a patent challenge by I-MAK, Gilead Sciences has withdrawn a patent claim on the base compound for the direct-acting antiviral sofosbuvir. I-MAK says that the decision will allow manufacturers in China to produce generic versions of sofosbuvir from 2019. Sofosbuvir is currently marketed by Gilead in China at a cost of $8939 per treatment course but generic versions of the drug are already available for less than $100. I-MAK says that the decision will permit expansion of hepatitis C treatment in China where approximately 10 million people are estimated to have hepatitis C.
Jessica Burry of the MSF Access campaign said that as well as reducing the price in China, the decision would also allow Chinese manufacturers to supply the drug to other countries where this patent restriction does not apply.