(Yicai Global) July 1 -- Gilead Sciences has started selling its highly effective hepatitis C medicine in China with a steep price tag of CNY99,000 (USD14,017) for a three-month treatment cycle.

Based on clinical trials, a 12-week one-tablet-a-day course of Vosevi is more than 97 percent certain to end the viral infection that usually causes liver damage, The Paper reported, citing Wei Lai, chief of Beijing Tsinghua Changgeng Hospital's hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery department.

The rate hovers between 94 percent and 100 percent in commercial use, according to data from the US, Germany, and Italy, Wei added.

Late last year, China's State Drug Administration approved Vosevi to be used to treat chronic hepatitis C patients who had not recovered after going through direct-acting antiviral regimens. Before that, the product was given the green light by medical authorities in the US and Europe in 2017.

China has about 10 million hepatitis C patients, ranking amongst the top four most common infectious diseases, according to the same source.

Most of the Chinese patients choose to take direct-acting antivirals, which are very effective, according to Wei. But those who don't get well after that have limited options of where to look next so Sovaldi could bring new hope to those patients, the medical professional added.

California-headquartered Gilead makes treatments for a wide range of diseases, and it's one of the many companies that are trying to come up with drugs to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gilead's stock price [NASDAQ: GILD] rose 3.2 percent to USD76.94 yesterday.

Editor: Emmi Laine