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US: Gilead sued for drug price-gouging

By  |  December 11, 2014

A Philadelphia transportation company filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical conglomerate Gilead for what it claims are “exorbitant” drug prices.

According to reports, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority claims Gilead abused its patent monopoly on the Sovaldi drug, which treats Hepatitis C. The suit, filed Tuesday, argues that the $1,000 cost for a single pill is the result of Gilead’s “limited rights as a patent holder,” which “do not translate into a license to price gouge consumers.”

The transportation authority says it has spent more than $2.4 million on Sovaldi for its employees. The company is now seeking to represent a nationwide class in legal action against Gilead.

The SPTA is seeking an unspecified amount of money damages, according to reports.

Full content: Reuters

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