Treating all people with hepatitis C virus in the United States and five Western European nations could lead an economic benefit to the tune of $3.2 billion per year. Researchers analyzed data on more than 1,900 HCV-positive people from the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom who were treated with Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir). They presented their findings at the Digestive Disease Week conference in Washington, DC.

The study participants responded to questionnaires, reporting on workplace absenteeism and productivity.

The researchers then developed an economic model that predicted how much productivity would be gained by curing hep C with Harvoni. They ultimately estimated that the reduced absenteeism and increased productivity gained from treating all people with hep C in the various countries would generate an annual economic benefit of $2.67 billion in the United States and a combined $556 million in the five European nations.

More research is needed to investigate the real-world benefits of treatment.

To read a press release on the study, click here.

For a link to read the conference abstract, click here.