Mylan Pharmaceuticals Private Ltd, a subsidiary of Mylan N.V, has launched Velpatasvir 100 mg/Sofosbuvir 400 mg tablets under the brand name MyHep All in India.
The drug is a fixed-dose combination tablet indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults, including all six major HCV genotypes. A Velpatasvir 100 mg /Sofosbuvir 400 mg combination product is currently sold by Gilead Sciences in other markets under the brand name EPCLUSA, according to a release.
HCV is a blood-borne virus commonly transmitted through unsafe injection practices, inadequate sterilisation of medical equipment, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. HCV also can be transmitted sexually and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby.
HCV can cause both acute and chronic infections. Approximately 55–85 per cent of those infected will develop chronic HCV infection. People with chronic HCV infection are often undiagnosed because the infection can remain asymptomatic for decades. In many instances, symptoms develop because of serious liver damage.
It’s estimated that more than 70 million people around the world have chronic hepatitis C infection, and nearly 400,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.