Around 1 percent of the adult population in the US is estimated to be living with Hepatitis C virus. The condition is known to afflict the liver and causes severe inflammation, and decreases liver function, with an impact on the quality of life. The possibility of liver failure also exists among patients who do not receive timely treatment or when the condition is left untreated. One of the most or frequently used medications to treat the condition is Mavyret. The medication is recommended to be used for treating all six variants of HCV, subject to the patient having mild or no cirrhosis of the liver. A common question on the minds of patients with the condition is – how much does Mavyret cost? Following sections offer detailed information about the drug, including the costs. This will help patients and family members be fully aware of the required information and take informed decisions.
What is the drug Mavyret for?
The drug is a branded formulation of Glecaprevir, which belongs to the category of an antiviral agent and Hepatitis C NS3/4A protease inhibitor. The medication is known to target the replication of viral RNA. In addition to the conditions mentioned above, it is also used to treat patients who have been unsuccessfully treated with other medications for Hepatitis C. It is also used to treat patients with Hepatitis C with kidney complications. Mavyret is essentially an oral combination formulation with Pibrentasvir. It has been popular since FDA approval about five years ago.
Is Mavyret a pill? Is it effective enough?
Mavyret is available in oral formulations, as a tablet as well as pellets. It is approved for use in adults and it is also safe for children above the age of three years. The medication is typically taken once every day, the tablet combination comprises 100 mg of glecaprevir and 40 mg of pibrentasvir. Pellets contain strengths that are half of that of the tablets.
Mavyret is considered to be effective as studies have revealed that patients with all the six types of HCV have been treated successfully with the medication. The average period for recovery was reported to be between two months to four months, depending on the severity of the condition.
Is Mavyret safe?
Different categories of alerts or warnings are used by the FDA to inform healthcare workers and patients about the possible effects of a drug. A boxed warning is considered as a serious warning, and Mavyret comes with a boxed warning. The drug is known to aggravate or expose the patient to increased risk of reactivation of HBV (hepatitis B virus). This is applicable to patients who have both HBV and HCV and receive Mavyret as treatment. It is important to note that HBV aggravation or any relapse can actually result in liver failure, and in some instances, this could be fatal. Patients with HBV and HCV are advised to receive separate treatment for HBV first, before commencing Mavyret. In certain circumstances, when it is necessary to take Mavyret alongside other treatment for HBV, it is essential to monitor the patient for symptoms that indicate HBV relapse, or flare up.
How much does Mavyret cost?
It is now time to look at the costs of Mavyret. The pricing of the drug as per the manufacturer is 13,200 USD for a one month course of Mavyret. The costs for a two month course are exactly double the cost of one month, without any change or reduction in costs. However, as the treatment is covered under insurance plans, the actual costs that may be borne by patients will be substantially lower, and depends on the type of insurance plan. For instance, the actual costs could be anywhere between 5 USD to 2847 USD for a month’s supply of Mavyret. Therefore, it is safe to have the right insurance plan in place, especially if you happen to be among the high risk category of individuals, who are prone to getting infected with HCV, HBV.
A dedicated patient support program is in place to help patients bring down the costs of the drug. Named Mavyret Patient Support, individuals can avail the service either by contacting support at 877-628-9738, or by checking out the website at https://www.mavyret.com/patient-support. Information from support also includes details on how the costs could be lowered legally.
Side effects of Mavyret
With all necessary information about costs explained, it is time to understand more about the possible side effects of the drug. All medications come with the possibility of undesirable outcomes. The actual nature or intensity of outcomes may differ from person to person and is dependent on many factors. For instance, the age of the patient, the genotype, the overall health of the patient, presence of other existing health conditions, and other medications in use. It is necessary to bear in mind that the drug may not cause undesirable effects in all patients. A section of patients may not experience any effects whatsoever. Here is a quick look at some of the commonly reported effects.
Patients are known to experience headache frequently, when on the drug. An overall feeling of fatigue is also reported, apart from feelings of nausea. The individual may also end up with bouts of diarrhea, when on the drug. Additionally, the patient may also experience the effects of higher than normal bilirubin level, which indicates problems in the liver or the bile duct. These effects are known to resolve naturally in a few days or weeks after commencing the treatment. It may not be necessary to seek separate treatment for these effects; however, if the effects persist or if the effects are intense and unbearable, it is necessary to seek medical attention.
Serious effects of Mavyret
Apart from the commonly reported effects, the drug also comes with possible serious effects. This includes severe allergic reactions, with symptoms such as swelling of the tongue and difficulty in breathing. Swelling may also be witnessed in in the eyelids, hands, feet, lips and throat. In such instances, it is necessary to seek urgent medial intervention to prevent it from turning adverse in nature. Patients and caregivers are to monitor and identify these effects, and seek timely treatment.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
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