The newly approved drug Sovaldi, a new generation of hepatitis C therapy that promises to cure some 90 percent of targeted patients likely to develop liver cancer if left untreated, costs $1,000 a day.
If current prescription patterns hold, Sovaldi U.S. sales -- manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc. -- could total $5 billion this year, but some analysts say the figure might reach $9 billion. Health insurance companies say the drug will hurt their bottom lines.