Nobel Laureate Condemns “Criminal” Pricing of Hepatitis C Cure, Warns of Eroding Scientific Trust
A groundbreaking drug capable of eradicating hepatitis C is largely inaccessible to those who need it most due to exorbitant pricing, according to the scientist who helped unlock the secrets of the virus. The revelation comes as global health officials grapple with a resurgence of preventable diseases and a growing distrust of scientific institutions.
Worldwide, an estimated 50 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis C, a silent killer that slowly destroys the liver and can lead to cancer. Approximately 1 million new infections occur each year, resulting in 240,000 deaths annually. However, a cure – Sofosbuvir – was discovered in 2007, offering a beacon of hope for millions.
The path to this breakthrough began in 1989, when scientists Harvey Alter and Michael Houghton identified an unknown virus in patients contracting hepatitis through blood transfusions. Eight years later, Charles Rice, along with colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis, definitively proved this virus was the causative agent of the disease. This pivotal discovery, recognized with the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, paved the way for the development of diagnostic tests and, ultimately, a cure.
Despite the promise of Sofosbuvir, access remains severely limited. “Medications for certain diseases are not developed because they cannot get enough profits from their sale,” Rice stated in a recent interview with El País, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the world. He highlighted the stark reality that only 1% of the four million people living with hepatitis C in Latin America receive treatment.
The root of the problem, according to Rice, lies in the pricing strategy employed by the pharmaceutical company Gilead, which acquired the original drug developer, Pharmasset, for $11 billion after Sofosbuvir’s potential became clear. Initially, the treatment cost a staggering $84,000 per person. “It’s a crime that there is a medicine that could cure everyone and yet not everyone has access to it because of the price, among other reasons,” Rice asserted.
While Gilead justified the high price by citing substantial research and development costs, Rice countered that the actual production cost of the drug was significantly lower, estimated at just $100 to $200. This discrepancy raises serious ethical questions about prioritizing profit over public health.
However, successful negotiations in some countries demonstrate a viable path forward. In Egypt, which faced a particularly severe hepatitis C epidemic with 10% of the population infected, Gilead reached an agreement with authorities to produce and distribute the drug at an affordable price. Spain followed suit, achieving treatment for 90% of its infected population. Similar, albeit slower, progress is being made in several African nations.
The situation underscores a broader crisis in medical research and public health. Rice warned that the relentless pursuit of financial gain is hindering the development of treatments for diseases where profitability is uncertain. “We live in a world where financial gain is largely the motor force behind the actions of humans,” he explained. “And this is a problem, because medicines for some diseases are not developed because enough money can not be earned.”
Beyond pricing, Rice expressed concern about a growing anti-science sentiment that threatens to undermine decades of progress. He noted a worrying trend in the United States, where hepatitis C incidence is increasing, and a broader “attack on science” fueled by anti-vaccination movements. “It’s crazy, it really is. I don’t know where it will be. It seems that something new is destroyed every day,” he lamented. He believes the current climate represents “a pretty bleak time for medical research,” leaving the world less prepared for future pandemics than it was for COVID-19.
The situation in Europe is varied. According to a 2023 report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 28,622 cases of hepatitis C were reported across 29 EU countries, representing a rate of 7.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. While Romania was initially identified as having one of the highest prevalence rates of viral hepatitis in Europe, the National Institute of Public Health announced in July that the country can now be considered a low-level hepatitis C area. .
Rice’s stark warning serves as a critical reminder that scientific breakthroughs alone are not enough to improve global health. Addressing systemic issues of affordability, access, and public trust is paramount to ensuring that life-saving treatments reach those who need them most.
